Interference characterization based on scheduling a transmission mode

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for characterizing interference based on scheduling a transmission mode are provided. One method includes wirelessly communicating, by a base station (BS), with a plurality of user equipment (UE), selecting one or more other base stations (BSs) associated with the BS, scheduling the selected one or more other BSs associated with the BS to transmit according to at least one transmission mode during a scheduled transmission, and characterizing, by at least one of the plurality of UE, interference at the UE during the scheduled transmission.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/714,157, filed Oct. 15, 2012, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The described embodiments relate to communications. More specifically,the described embodiments relate to characterizing interference based onscheduling a transmission mode.

BACKGROUND

In some wireless system deployments the base stations reuse one or morefrequency channels for transmission very frequently in space (alsocalled aggressive frequency reuse). In some cases the same frequency maybe used by neighboring base stations transmitting on the sametime/frequency resources, often resulting in high interference levels orlow signal-to-interference ratios at the receiver of many of the userequipment served by the base station. In scenarios where theinterference is a significant impairment for the link quality betweenthe base station and a user equipment, improved understanding of theinterference (for example the one or more dominating sources, thestatistics, the time/frequency/spatial distribution vs. transmissionmode) could assist in assigning transmit frequency channels to the basestations, scheduling downlink resource blocks to user equipment,adapting the transmission mode, etc. Therefore it is desirable to haveimproved systems and methods for characterizing interference based onscheduling a transmission mode.

SUMMARY

An embodiment includes a method for determining interference of awireless system. The method includes wirelessly communicating, by a basestation (BS), with a plurality of user equipment (UE), selecting one ormore other base stations (BSs) associated with the BS, scheduling theselected one or more other BSs associated with the BS to transmitaccording to at least one transmission mode during a scheduledtransmission, and characterizing, by at least one of the plurality ofUE, interference at the UE during the scheduled transmission.

An embodiment includes a wireless system. The wireless system includes abase station (BS), wherein the BS is operative to wirelessly communicatewith a plurality of user equipment (UE). One or more controllers areoperative to select one or more other base stations (BSs) associatedwith base station, and schedule the selected one or more other BSsassociated with the BS to transmit according to at least onetransmission mode during a scheduled transmission. At least one of theplurality of UE are operative to characterize interference at the atleast one UE during the scheduled transmission.

Other embodiments are directed to systems, apparatuses, and computerreadable media associated with methods described herein.

Reference to the remaining portions of the specification, including thedrawings and claims, will realize other features and advantages of thedescribed embodiments. Further features and advantages of the describedembodiments, as well as the structure and operation of variousembodiments of the described embodiments, are described in detail belowwith respect to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, likereference numbers can indicate identical or functionally similarelements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a backhaul system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 a shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 b shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a system for estimating a future link quality of a userequipment (UE) device at a future positioning, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 9 shows another system for estimating a link quality of a UE deviceat a neighboring positioning, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows another system for estimating a future link quality of aUE device at a future time based on a future positioning, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows another system for estimating a future link quality of asecond UE device at a future positioning based on link qualities, basedon a plurality of positionings of a first UE device, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 12 shows a wireless system that includes characterizing ofinterference at a user equipment, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows another wireless system that includes characterizing ofinterference at a UE device, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows another wireless system that includes characterizing ofinterference at a UE device, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows a wireless system that includes characterization ofinterference at a base station, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows an example of three base stations scheduling resourceblocks on the same frequency channel (or carrier) A (represented byrectangular blocks with x-axis in time units and y-axis in frequencyunits), according to an embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a plurality of base station cells, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 18 shows two BS clusters (BS1-BS7 and BS11-BS17) simultaneouslyscheduling transmission modes or null transmissions or characterizinginterference in parallel, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 19 a and 19 b show examples of a pattern of a BS simultaneouslyscheduling transmission modes or null transmissions or characterizinginterference in parallel, dynamically moving from a first cluster of BSto a second cluster of BS, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a cluster of a BS simultaneously schedulingtransmission modes or null transmissions or characterizing interferencein parallel, with a plurality of null transmission BS, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a cluster of a BS simultaneously schedulingtransmission modes or null transmissions or characterizing interferencein parallel to assist FFR or SFR, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system, according to anembodiment. The system includes a plurality of base stations (BSs) 100,101, 110, 111, 112. In at least some embodiments the system includes ahomogeneous system, wherein the BSs are of the same type (oralternatively classification or tier, etc.). In at least someembodiments the system includes a plurality of BSs types, such as MacroBSs 100, 101 and small cell (SC) BSs 110, 111, 112. In at least someembodiments Macro BSs 100, 101 have a larger coverage area or cell size,or transmit larger power, or have higher performance antenna systems,etc. than the small cell BSs 110, 111, 112. In at least some embodimentsthe small cell BSs are alternatively called microcell, picocell, relaynode, or femtocell BS. In at least some embodiments the small cell BSsare located indoors (inside an enterprise, commercial building, home),such as small cell BS 112.

For at least one embodiment the BS includes a traditional BS, wherein alarge portion of the radio access network (RAN) functionality, such asradio frequency (RF), analog and digital baseband and scheduling areco-located. For at least one embodiment at least a portion of the BSfunctionality is implemented at a second location. For at least oneembodiment the BS includes distributed processing elements, such as oneor more of remote radio heads (RRH), remote radio units (RRU) ordistributed antenna systems (DAS). For at least one embodimentscheduling, resource allocation or baseband processing associated withone or more BS are aggregated at a second location, for example a cloudBS or cloud RAN.

In at least some embodiments the plurality of BSs wirelessly communicatewith a plurality of user equipment (UE) device, such as UE device 121(wirelessly communicating with BS 100), UE device 122 (wirelesslycommunicating with BS 111), UE device 123 (wirelessly communicating withBS 112). The wireless communication access traffic (or data or datapayload) associated with UE devices 121, 122, 123 may be associated withone or more data networks 140, 141, 142 (for example a carrier network,or a company network, or the internet, or a core network). The wirelesscommunication access traffic may include downlink (originating from thedata network 140, 141, 142) or uplink (originating from the UE devices121, 122, 123) or both downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) traffic. For atleast one embodiment the wireless communication access traffic (or thebackhaul traffic) include data associated (for example originating fromor terminating at) with the UE device or control information associatedwith the wireless communication system (for example the X2 interfacefrom the 4G or LTE wireless communication technology). Examples ofcontrol information associated with the wireless communicating systemincludes link performance (for example information associated withreceived signal quality, path loss, channel between desired BS and oneor more UE device or backhaul UE (bUE) device, SNR, interference,interference sources, etc.), traffic/data (for example informationassociated with QoS, packet delay, traffic loading, jitter, queue statesor sizes, PER, etc.).

In at least some embodiments the wireless communication access trafficis communicated to a data network 140, 141, 142, through a backhaulcommunication technology, such as backhaul 130, 131, 132, 133, 134. Thebackhaul communication technology may include one or more of a fibercommunication technology, a microwave link, a T1/E1, a cable or DSLcommunication technology or an alternative inband or out of bandwireless (for example WiMAX or WiFi) communication technology. In atleast some embodiments the backhaul requirements for a BS includeparameters associated with the BS or a plurality of UE devicesassociated with the BS. In at least some embodiments BS 100 may includea large coverage area, and a high density plurality of UE devices andinclude 2G/3G/4G wireless communication technology. For example BS 100aggregate access traffic may be large and may require a Backhaul 130with large bandwidth (for example a fiber communication technology or amicrowave communication technology). In at least some embodiments BS 100includes a small coverage area (for example a home), and a small numberof UE devices and include 4G wireless communication technology. Forexample BS 100 aggregate access traffic may be small and may require aBackhaul 130 with small bandwidth (for example a DSL communicationtechnology or a cable modem communication technology). In at least someembodiments the backhaul requirements associated with a BS includes oneor more of a latency, a bandwidth, a PER (packet error rate), a packetjitter, a cost, a data cap, etc. In at least some embodiments the accesstraffic associated with the plurality of UE devices associated with a BSincludes a plurality of backhaul requirements. For example a first UEdevice may be streaming video, which may require large bandwidth, butrelaxed latency and PER requirements. For example a second UE device maybe performing VoIP, which may require low latency, and small bandwidth.In at least some embodiments the backhaul associated with a BS (forexample one or more of BS 100, 101, 110, 111, 112) may not satisfy theaccess traffic requirements of the plurality of UE devices associatedwith the BS. In at least some embodiments a BS may not have access toso-called traditional backhaul (such as T1/E1, microwave, fiber) ortraditional backhaul installation time or installation costs are toohigh.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a backhaul system, according to anembodiment. The system includes a base station (BS) 201 and a pluralityof backhaul user equipment (bUE) devices (such as bUE devices 210, 211),each of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 operable to wirelesslycommunicate with the BS (201) through at least a first communicationtechnology (for example wireless communication technologies (WCT) 220,221 and 222), and the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 each operable tocommunicate with at least one data network (such as data networks 241,242) through at least a second communication technology (for examplebackhaul communication technologies (CT) 230 and 231). For anembodiment, the BS (201) is operative to wirelessly communicate (forexample wireless communication technologies (WCT) 222) with one or moreuser equipment (UE) devices (such as, UE device 212), and networkconnect the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 212) to the atleast one data network (241, 242) through one or more of the pluralityof bUE devices 210, 211, select one or more of the plurality of bUEdevices 210, 211 for backhaul (BH) traffic, wherein the BH trafficincludes access traffic associated with the one or more UE devices (suchas, UE device 212), aid in selecting a transmission power level of atleast one of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211, or at least one ofthe one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 212), and transmitresource block (RB) scheduling information for the BH traffic of atleast one of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 and the accesstraffic of at least one of the one or more UE devices (such as, UEdevice 212).

It is to be understood that while FIG. 2 only shows a single UE device212, embodiments include the BS 201 wirelessly communicating with anynumber of UE devices. Further, while FIG. 2 only shows two bUE devices210, 211, embodiments includes any number of bUE devices operable towirelessly communicate with the BS 201. Further, while FIG. 2 depictsthe BS 201 operable to perform several steps, it is to be understoodthat embodiments include the operational steps being performed or aidedby other devices. For example, the steps of selecting one or more of theplurality of bUE devices 210, 211 for backhaul (BH) traffic, andselecting a transmission power level of at least one of the plurality ofbUE devices 210, 211 can alternatively be wholly or partially performedsomewhere else, such as, at a base station controller or in the cloud(for example at a cloud RAN or at a cloud BS).

In at least some embodiments the access traffic associated with UEdevice 212 (or a plurality of UE devices) includes a plurality ofapplications (for example streaming video, VoIP, browsing, gaming,etc.), each of which may include one or more plurality of access trafficrequirements (for example delay QoS, best effort, foreground,background, DL, UL, etc.) and may map into a set of backhaulrequirements for selecting the bUE device. For example UE device 212 mayneed to upload (access traffic UL) a large file in the background. Forthis example a first bUE device may include a high bandwidth and highPER backhaul WCT link on the DL (for example a 4G/LTE link limited bybursty interference from aggressive frequency reuse) and a second bUEdevice may include a low bandwidth and low PER WCT link on the DL (forexample a 3G link limited by low SNR). For this example the accesstraffic requirements are better matched (or alternatively mapped orsatisfied) by the first bUE device. For example UE device 212application may include a VoIP (typically with low bandwidth,symmetrical DL/UL, low latency access traffic requirements). For thisexample a first bUE device may include a high bandwidth, high latencyand high jitter backhaul CT to a VoIP gateway (for example over a cablemodem to a cable operator to a VoIP gateway) and a second bUE device mayinclude a low bandwidth, low latency and low jitter CT link (for examplea T1 to a core network). For this example the VoIP access trafficrequirements are better matched (or alternatively mapped or satisfied)by the second bUE device.

For at least one embodiment the bUE device 210 wirelessly communicateswith the BS 201 on the same wireless technology (for example 4G or LTE)as the UE device 212 wirelessly communicates with the BS 201 but on adifferent channel or carrier. For at least one embodiment the bUE device210 wirelessly communicates with the BS 201 on the first wirelesstechnology (for example 4G/LTE) as the UE device 212 wirelesslycommunicates with the BS 201 on a second wireless technology (forexample 3G/HSPA).

Exemplary embodiments of the BS 201 include a cellular BS, a 3G NodeB, a4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) eNodeB. It is to be understood that this isnot an exhaustive list.

For at least some embodiments, the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211wirelessly communicate with the BS 201 over one or more of wirelesscommunication technologies, wherein the one or more wirelesscommunication technologies include at least one of WiFi, WiMax, 3G, 4G,LTE, Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), Widebandcode division multiple access (WCDMA).

For at least some embodiments, the one or more UE devices (such as, UEdevice 212) wirelessly communicate with the BS 201 over one or more ofwireless communication technologies, wherein the one or more wirelesscommunication technologies include at least one of WiFi, WiMax, 3G, 4G,LTE, OFDMA, WCDMA.

For an embodiment, the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 212)wirelessly communicate with the BS 201 and the plurality of bUE devices210, 211 wirelessly communicate with the BS 201 utilizing a samewireless communication technology. Further, for at least one embodiment,the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 212) wirelesslycommunicate with the BS 201, and the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211wirelessly communicate with the BS 201 utilizing the same wirelesscommunication technology and a shared one or more frequency channels.

For at least some embodiments, at least one of the one or more UEdevices (such as, UE device 212) or at least one of the plurality of bUEdevices 210, 211 includes one or more of a fixed client terminal, mobileterminal, a user terminal, an access terminal, a consumer premisesequipment.

For various embodiments, at least one of the one or more UE devices(such as, UE device 212) or at least one of the plurality of bUE devices210, 211 includes one or more of a cellular phone, a smart phone, anotebook, a laptop, a tablet, a PC.

For at least one embodiment, at least one of the plurality bUE devices210, 211, is at least one of associated with or a part of a small cellBS, wherein the small cell BS includes client side modem functionality.More specifically, for at least one embodiment the small cell BSincludes one or more of a microcell, a picocell, a relay node, afemtocell. For at least one embodiment a small cell BS (for example oneor more of a microcell, a picocell, a relay node, femtocell) includesclient side modem functionality (for example a subset of a UE device orbUE device functionality). For at least one embodiment the small cell BSincludes a backhaul CT to one or more data networks. For theseembodiments a small cell BS with client side modem functionality couldfunction as a bUE device. For at least one embodiment each of the firstBS and the small cell BS including bUE device functionality includebackhaul CT and the access traffic associated with the first BS could becommunicated over the WCT through the small cell BS including bUE devicefunctionality. For at least one embodiment each of the first BS and thesmall cell BS including bUE device functionality include backhaul CT andthe access traffic associated with the small cell BS including bUEdevice functionality could be communicated over the WCT through thefirst BS. For at least one embodiment each of the first BS and the smallcell BS including bUE device functionality include backhaul CT and theaccess traffic associated with the small cell BS including bUE devicefunctionality is communicated over the first BS backhaul CT or the smallcell BS backhaul CT based on first parameters of the first BS backhaulCT or second parameters of the small cell BS backhaul CT. For at leastone embodiment the first parameters or second parameters include one ormore of bandwidth, latency, PER, jitter, QoS, cost, sponsoring, rebates.At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 utilize theseembodiments.

For at least one embodiment, the at least one data network (such as,data networks 241, 242) includes one or more of a wide area network,mobile core, core network, a company network, carrier network, broadbandnetwork, internet. For at least one embodiment accessing a data service(for example video streaming, cloud back-up, software update) over oneor more data networks and one or more backhaul CT includes a commonoperator with improved control of parameters (for example latency,bandwidth, PER). This is typically the case for wireless serviceproviders with carrier class backhaul CT (for example fiber CT,microwave CT, T1/E1) to mobile core or core networks. For at least oneembodiment accessing a data service (for example video streaming, cloudback-up, software update) over one or more data networks and one or morebackhaul CT includes a plurality of operators with a plurality ofcontrol of parameters (for example latency, bandwidth, PER). This istypically the case for femtocell backhaul CT over a CT and data networkoperated by a DSL or cable modem service provider.

For at least one embodiment, the second communication technologyincludes one or more of broadband internet connectivity, wiredcommunication technology, T1, E1, digital subscriber line (DSL), DataOver Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), cable modem,wireless communication technology, WiFi, WiMax, point to point (P2P) orpoint to multi-point (P2mP) microwave, fiber communication technology,3G, 4G. For example the access or backhaul WCT may be one of 2G or 3GWCT and the backhaul CT may be a 4G WCT). For at least one embodimentthe bUE device may be a UE device (for example a smartphone or tablet ornotebook) with one or more of 2G, 3G, 4G cellular access WCT and one ormore of WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet backhaul CT. For at least oneembodiment the one or more of WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, Ethernet backhaul CTmay be configured to connect to one or more of a WiFi access point, or aEthernet LAN over a Bluetooth or a USB or Ethernet modem. Clearly manyother permutations or combinations of one or more WCT and one or morebackhaul CT are possible. For at least one embodiment the bUE device isa dedicated (or alternatively called a specialized or custom) device toimprove the performance of the backhaul WCT link or backhaul CT link orthe connection (for example by performing one or more of the followingfunctions: collecting additional information, mapping, bridging,routing, network connecting, controlling) between the backhaul WCT andthe backhaul CT. For example the dedicated bUE device may improve thebackhaul WCT by improving hardware or software capability (for exampleincreased transmit power, lower receiver noise figure, additionaltransmit or receiver antennas, higher antenna gain, improved linkperformance statistics gathering and exchange), by improving theinstallation or deployment of the bUE device for better signal qualityparameters (lower path loss, lower interference, etc.), by deploying thededicated bUE device at a location with favorable backhaul CT parameters(for example at closer to a cable or DSL head-end for improved datacommunication performance) or by improving the connection between thebackhaul WCT and the backhaul CT (for example by improved packetprocessing, protocol conversion, header conversion, PER monitoring, ARQhandling, QoS mapping, etc.).

For at least one embodiment, the BS 201 is further operative to obtainone or more first parameters associated with the wireless communicationbetween one or more of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 and the BS201. Specifically, for at least one embodiment, the selection of the oneor more of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 for the BH traffic isbased on the first parameters. At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2and FIG. 3 implement these embodiments.

In at least some embodiments selecting the bUE device (such as, one ofbUE device 210, 211) is based on a bUE device backhaul wirelesscommunication technology (WCT) between the plurality of bUE devices 210,211 and the BS 201. For example bUE device 210 may include a WCT 220with large bandwidth (exemplary first parameter) (for example 4G or LTE)and bUE device 211 may include a WCT 221 with low PER (exemplary firstparameter) (for example 2G/3G). For this example bUE device 210 may bebetter suited for a streaming video application and bUE device 211 maybe better suited for a VoIP or gaming application. For example bUEdevice 210 may include a WCT 220 with a high SNR (exemplary firstparameter) and bursty interference (exemplary first parameter) (forexample 4G/LTE with aggressive frequency reuse resulting in high averagethroughput and high PER and frequent retransmissions) and bUE device 211may include a WCT 221 with low average and low variance CQI (channelquality information) (exemplary first parameter). For this example bUEdevice 210 may be better suited for video streaming and bUE device 211may be better suited for VoIP application. In at least some embodimentsthe bUE device 210 may include a WCT 220 with low interference footprint(for example by using directional antennas or low transmission powerwhich results in lower interference to other surrounding WCT links)(exemplary first parameter), which could make it more desirable forselection. In at least some embodiments a WCT 220 DL (shown as a dashedarrow) parameters are more desirable than the WCT 221 DL parameters andan UL access traffic (WCT 222) associated with UE 212 is networkconnected through bUE device 210. In at least some embodiments a WCT 220UL (shown as a solid arrow) parameters are less desirable than the WCT221 UL parameters and DL access traffic (WCT 222) associated with UE 212is network connected through bUE device 211. For example WCT parametersrelevant for selecting a bUE device based on bUE WCT include one or moreof a link quality, link quality statistics, link quality variation, pathloss, fading, shadowing, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Signal toInterference and Noise Ratio (SINR), Packet Error Rate (PER), receivedinterference, interference generated to other devices, Channel QualityIndicator (CQI), Channel State Information (CSI), Modulation and CodingScheme (MCS), Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), rank indicator (RI),single user or multiuser Multiple Input Multiple Output (SU-MIMO orMU-MIMO) information.

For at least one embodiment, the BS 201 is further operative to obtainone or more second parameters associated with the at least one datanetwork (such as, data networks 241, 242) through at least the secondcommunication technology. More specifically, for at least oneembodiment, the selection of the one or more of the plurality of bUEdevices 210, 211 for the BH traffic is based on the one or more secondparameters. A non-exhaustive list of exemplary second parametersincludes one or more of a link quality, bandwidth, throughput, cost,latency, jitter, QoS, PER.

In at least some embodiments selecting the bUE device is based on a bUEdevice backhaul CT parameter (second parameter associated with secondcommunication technology) between the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211and one or more data networks. For example bUE device 210 may include abackhaul CT 230 with large bandwidth (exemplary second parameter) (forexample cable modem) and bUE device 211 may include a backhaul CT 231with low latency (exemplary second parameter) (for example T1). For thisexample bUE device 210 may be better suited for a streaming videoapplication and bUE device 211 may be better suited for a VoIP or gamingapplication. For example bUE device 210 may include a backhaul CT 230with a monthly data cap (exemplary second parameter) (for example cablemodem) and bUE device 211 may include a backhaul CT 231 with unlimiteddata usage (exemplary second parameter) and high latency (exemplarysecond parameter) (for example a home DSL). For this example bUE device210 may be better suited for VoIP or gaming and bUE device 211 may bebetter suited for background data (for example software updates or localcontent preloading) application.

For at least one embodiment, the access traffic associated with the oneor more UE devices (such as, UE device 212) is classified into two ormore data flows based on a data flow parameter and the selection of theone or more plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 for the BH traffic isbased in part on the data flow parameter. More specifically, for atleast one embodiment, the data flow parameter includes one or more of adata flow bandwidth, latency, Quality of Service (QoS), PER, UE devicestate, application, user state, cost, sponsoring, data plan. For atleast one embodiment a UE device has a plurality of applications usingcommunication resources over the access WCT and at least two datacommunications associated with the plurality of active applications havea common a data flow parameter within a tolerance threshold. For examplea first data communication may be associated with a gaming applicationwith maximum latency of requirement parameter 5 ms and a second datacommunication may be associated with a VoIP application with maximumlatency requirement of 10 ms and the classification is all data flowwith latency requirements below 10 ms. For at least one embodiment thedata flow classification includes a plurality of parameters, for examplebandwidth and latency, or bandwidth and cost, or QoS and cost. For atleast one embodiment the plurality of applications includes a pluralityof UE devices. For example a first data communication associated with afirst application associated with a first UE device may be aggregatedwith a second data communication associated with a second applicationassociated with a second UE device when they first and second datacommunications based on a data flow parameter (for example the data flowparameter requirements are within a threshold tolerance).

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the backhaul system wherein a BS 301 isfurther operable to communicate with at least one data network (such as,data network 340) over at least a third communication technology (forexample Backhaul CT 332). For at least some embodiments, the BS 301 isfurther operative to select the third communication technology for BHtraffic, wherein the BH traffic of the third communication technologyincluding access traffic from the one or more UE devices (such as, UEdevice 212).

An exemplary, non-exhaustive list of technology that can be utilized asthe third communication technology include one or more of wiredcommunication technology, T1, E1, DSL, DOCSIS, cable modem, wirelesscommunication technology, WiFi, WiMax, P2P or P2mP microwave, fibercommunication technology.

For at least some embodiments, the BS is further operative to obtain oneor more third parameters associated with the at least one data networkthrough at least the third communication technology 332. An exemplary,non-exhaustive list of parameters that can be utilized as the one ormore third parameters includes one or more of a link quality, bandwidth,throughput, cost, latency, jitter, QoS, PER. For at least oneembodiment, the third communication technology for BH traffic includes acarrier grade communication technology. For at least one embodiment, theBH traffic of the third communication technology includes legacy accesstraffic. For at least one embodiment the BH traffic of the thirdcommunication technology 332 includes legacy access traffic, wherein thelegacy access traffic includes one or more of 2G access WCT traffic,2G+3G access WCT traffic, low latency access WCT traffic. For at leastone embodiment the BH traffic of the third communication technologyincludes low bandwidth or low latency access traffic, wherein the accesstraffic includes one or more of 2G access traffic, 2G+3G access traffic,access traffic associated with voice or gamming applications or realtime applications.

In at least some embodiments the BS 301 includes traditional backhaul(for example carrier grade or narrowband—such as a small number of T1 orE1) that is insufficient to satisfy the access traffic demands of theplurality of UE (such as, UE 212). For example a BS 301 that is upgradedfrom 3G WCT to 3G+4G WCT may not have sufficient bandwidth to supportthe additional services or applications. For example the BS 301 mayinclude a small number of T1 (for example based on legacy 2G or 3Grequirements) that may be able to support latency or jitter or PERrequirements (for example for a 2G or 3G cellular service) but may notbe able to support the bandwidth requirement of additional 4G services.For example a BS 301 may have been dimensioned for a small number of UEdevices or UE devices with lower access traffic capability but over thedeployment lifetime a growth in the number of UE devices or additionalenhanced access traffic generating capability UE device (for examplesmartphones or tablets) or additional services or applications onexisting UE device may require additional demands on backhaul. In atleast some embodiments the BS 301 requires a bUE device 210 to networkconnect at least a portion of the access traffic (for example additionalaccess traffic from new UE, services or higher bandwidth WCT) to a datanetwork over a bUE device and selecting between the traditional backhaul332 and the bUE device 210 backhaul. In at least some embodiments thebUE device backhaul is used as an interim solution. In at least someembodiments the bUE device backhaul is used as an interim solution untiladditional traditional backhaul is available (for example whileupgrading a BS backhaul from one or more of T1 to microwave or fibercommunication technology). For example a BS deployment with 2G or 2G+3GWCT may be been equipped with a small number of T1/E1, wherein the smallnumber of T1/E1 is sufficient to satisfy an initial or legacy accesstraffic parameters/requirement (for example bandwidth and latency). Forat least one embodiment additional backhaul CT performance (bandwidth,capacity, latency, etc.) is required (for example to include additionalUE devices, additional services, additional UE device with enhancedrequirements/capabilities, additional WCT—such as 4G) may be required ata later time, wherein the additional backhaul CT performance is achievedwith assistance of one or more bUE device 210. For at least oneembodiment the additional backhaul CT performance is achieved withassistance of one or more bUE device 210 as in interim solution. For atleast one embodiment the interim solution is used until the BS backhaulis upgraded (for example from a small number of T1/E1 to a fiberCT—which may take several years to deploy/install). At least someembodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can implement these embodiments.

For at least one embodiment, the BS 201 (or 301) operative to aid inselecting the transmission power level of at least one of the pluralityof bUE devices 210, 211, or the one or more UE devices (such as, UEdevice 212) is assisted by a signal transmitted by the BS 201 (or 310).More specifically, or at least one embodiment, the assisting by thesignal transmitted by the BS 201 (or 310) includes one or more of acontrol message from the BS 201 (or 310), or a reference signaltransmitted by the BS 201 (or 310). At least some embodiments of bothFIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can implement these embodiments. For at least oneembodiment the reference signal transmitted by the BS 201 (or 310)includes one or more of a pilot, a synchronization sequence, a referencesymbol, a training sequence, a data symbol, wherein one o more of theplurality of bUE devices or at least one of the one or more UE devicesmay use to estimate a received signal strength and/or derive atransmission path loss from which the transmission power level may beselected (or alternatively estimated, derived, or refined). For at leastone embodiment the BS 201 (or 310) estimates a received signal strength(for example based on one or more of a pilot, a synchronizationsequence, a reference symbol, a training sequence, a data symbol) fromat least one of the plurality of bUE devices or at least one of the oneor more UE devices and/or derives a transmission path loss from which adesired transmission power level for at least one of the bUE device orUE device may be selected. For at least one embodiment, informationassociated with the particular bUE device or UE device desiredtransmission power may be communicated to the particular bUE device orUE device over a control message from the BS 201 (or 310).

For at least one embodiment, a resource block (RB) includes a partitionof a carrier or frequency channel for the wirelessly communicating. Morespecifically, for at least one embodiment, the partition includes one ormore of a unit of time, a unit of frequency, a code. For an embodiment,the partition includes one or more of a time slot, a frequency band, atime-frequency allocation, a time-code allocation, a time-frequency-codeallocation. At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 canimplement these embodiments.

For at least one embodiment, the wireless communication between theplurality of bUE devices 210, 211 and the BS 201 is enhanced relative tothe wireless communication between the BS 201 and at least one of theone or more UE devices (such as, UE device 212), wherein the enhancedwireless communication includes one or more of better antenna gain, moreantennas, outdoor installation, better processing power, better transmitor receive analog or digital performance, lower transmit power, higheror outdoor installation, improved link parameters, improved number ofantennas. For at least one embodiment the bUE devices are selected fromthe one or more UE devices based on enhanced (or alternatively higherperformance or favorable) WCT parameters. For example the bUE device maybe selected from the population of one or more UE devices based onbetter path loss (less path loss), higher MCS, lower PER. For at leastone embodiment the bUE device may be a dedicated device with hardware orsoftware functionality that results in better WCT parameters. For atleast one embodiment the dedicated bUE device have better antennas (forexample higher gain or more antennas), higher transmission power orlower receiver sensitivity or are installed at favorable locationsrelative to the BS 201 (for example lower shadowing or higher K-factorchannels). At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 canimplement these embodiments.

At least one embodiment further includes classifying and prioritizingthe BH traffic based on the access traffic (for example access trafficis classified based on QoS parameters of the access traffic data orcontrol payload and this information is mapped onto associated BHtraffic), and wherein the RB scheduling information for the BH trafficis based on the BH traffic prioritization. At least one embodimentfurther includes classifying and prioritizing the access traffic,wherein the RB scheduling information for the access traffic and the BHtraffic is based on the access traffic prioritization and BH trafficprioritization. For example a DL scheduler may assign RBs to DL accesstraffic for a first UE device and DL backhaul traffic for a bUE devicewhich includes UL access traffic from a second UE (or the first UE) tobe sent over the bUE device backhaul CT. For this example the DLscheduler RB assignments may be based on the first UE DL access trafficclassification and the DL backhaul traffic which is associated withsecond UE (or first UE) UL access traffic. For at least one embodiment,classifying the BH traffic includes best effort access traffic having alower priority than classified access traffic having a delay QoS below athreshold. At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 canimplement these embodiments.

In at least some embodiments the access traffic associated with aplurality of UE (such as, UE 212) is classified (for example based ondelay QoS, best effort, DL, UL, foreground, background). In at leastsome embodiments the classified access traffic is aggregated (forexample across a plurality of UE (such as, UE 212)). In at least someembodiments the classified aggregated traffic is assigned into queuesprior to assigning of resource blocks for BH traffic of at least one ofthe plurality of bUE devices. For example the VoIP access traffic fromthe plurality of UE (such as, UE 212) could be assigned to one VoIPqueue and based on the plurality of bUE WCT or CT parameters this queuemay be carried by a selected bUE device.

For at least one embodiment, a bUE device selection of one or more ofthe plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 is based on one or more firstparameters of the wireless communication between the bUE device and theBS 201 or one or more second parameters of associated with at least onedata network through at least the second communication technology. Forexample bUE devices 210, 211 may be selected from a larger pool ofavailable bUE devices for providing backhaul traffic functionality oralternatively bUE devices 210, 211 may have been deployed at desirablelocations based on favorable WCT parameters (for example near a BS orwith favorably channel parameters—for example one or more of low loss,low interference, etc.) or backhaul CT parameters (for example near afiber CT with high bandwidth and low latency or near a microwave CT withline of sight—LOS). More specifically, for at least one embodiment, thebUE device deployment selection includes one or more of selecting a bUEdevice deployment configuration, selecting a bUE device type, selectinga bUE device configuration, selecting a bUE device installationpositioning, selecting a bUE device site. More specifically, for atleast one embodiment, the first parameter of the bUE device selection isbased on a joint first parameter between at least two of the pluralityof bUE devices 210, 211. More specifically, for at least one embodiment,the joint first parameter enables joint or simultaneous wirelesscommunication on a shared resource block (RB) of at least two of theplurality of bUE devices 210, 211. For a more specific embodiment, thejoint or simultaneous wireless communication includes one or more ofmulti user (MU)-MIMO, successive interference cancelling (SIC),multilevel constellation and/or modulation. For at least one embodimentthe BS (for example 201 or 301) includes a plurality of antennas (forexample for transmission or reception) and in combination with the atleast two of the plurality of bUE devices generate a matrix wirelesscommunication channel between the BS and the at least two of theplurality of bUE devices. For this embodiment the matrix channel maysupport at least two simultaneous transmissions over the same RB basedon a channel parameter. For at least one embodiment the channelparameter includes a channel matrix rank. For at least one embodimentthe channel parameter includes a plurality of singular values (oralternatively eigenvalues or eigen-directions or some other property ofthe matrix channel that may assists in quantifying a number ofsimultaneous transmissions). For at least one embodiment the channelparameter includes a parameter greater than a threshold (for example thenumber of singular values above a threshold—for example singular valuesthat are at least 2 times larger than the background one or more ofnoise or interference or distortion). For at least one embodiment theplurality of bUE devices (for example 210, 211) are selected basedchannel matrix parameters between one or more subsets of the pluralityof bUE devices (for example at least a minimum number of subsets of size2 of bUE devices selected from the plurality of bUE devices includingchannel matrix of rank 2 when combined with a BS with at least 2antennas or at least a minimum number of subsets of size 3 of bUEdevices having rank 3 when combined with a BS with at least 3 antennas).For at least one embodiment the matrix channel parameter includesinformation associated with one or more of multi user (MU)-MIMO,successive interference cancelling (SIC), multilevel constellationand/or modulation. For at least one embodiment at least one of theplurality of bUE devices are selected to enable simultaneous wirelesscommunication between the BS with the at least one bUE device and atleast one UE of the plurality of UE.

In at least some embodiments one or more of the plurality of UE devices(such as, UE device 212), in addition to a first CT for communicationwith the BS 201, include a second CT (for example 3G WCT combined with4G WCT or cellular WCT combined WiFi CT or cellular WCT combined withBluetooth or USB or Ethernet CT, etc.) and based on the parametersassociated with the second CT, one of the one or more UE device may beoperated (or alternatively selected or converted or chosen forconsideration) to a bUE device (for example provisioned or dynamically).In at least some embodiments the bUE devices are dedicated (for examplea specialized bUE device) for network connecting access traffic overbackhaul. In at least some embodiments the dedicated bUE device includesimproved WCT parameters (for example higher antenna gain, highertransmit power, lower received noise figure) relative to a majority ofthe plurality of UE devices. In at least some embodiments the bUEdevices are deployed under favorable conditions (for example installedat a higher location, or lower mobility/fixed, pointed in the directionof improved link quality, installed at a location with lower shadowingor lower path loss, etc.) relative to a majority of the plurality of UEdevice. In at least some embodiments better bUE device deploymentimproves the efficiency of the backhaul WCT link (for example moreefficient modulation and coding scheme (MCS)) or lower interference toother links. At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 canimplement these embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a backhaul system. For thisembodiment, the plurality of bUE devices (such as, bUE devices 410 b,411 b) are selected such that at least one of the one or more UE devices(such as, UE devices 410 a, 411 a) has an associated bUE device, therebyenabling joint or simultaneous wireless communication (for examplebackhaul wireless communication technologies (WCT) 422 and 423 andaccess wireless communication technologies (WCT) 421 and 424) over oneor more shared resource blocks (RB). For at least one embodiment, thejoint wireless communication over the one or more shared RB includesjoint wireless communication utilizing one or more of communicationseparable in space, multilevel constellation, transmitter pre-coding orreceiver separation. For at least some embodiments, the at least one ofthe plurality of bUE devices 410 b, 411 b includes a plurality oftransmit antennas, wherein the at least one bUE device includes moretransmit antennas than the one or more UE devices 410 a, 411 a the atleast one bUE device is associated with, or at least one of theplurality of bUE devices includes a plurality of receive antennas,wherein the at least one bUE device includes more receive antennas thanthe one or more UE devices the at least one bUE device is associatedwith. At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can implementthese embodiments.

In at least some embodiments an access WCT (for example 421 and 424) anda BH WCT (for example 422 and 423) may be operated simultaneously forimproved usage of the WCT resources (for example improved spectralefficiency, lower interference, joint RB utilization). For example spacedivision multiple access (SDMA), beamforming (BF), multiple inputmultiple output (MIMO), successive interference cancelling (SIC),transmit precoding (TP), dirty paper coding (DPC) may be enabled betweena BS and at least two clients (for example a bUE device and a UE or twobUE devices or two UE devices) over a shared resource (for example ashared time-frequency resource block). In at least some embodiments anUL RB may be shared between access WCT 421 link and backhaul WCT 423link (for example using multiuser-MIMO or BF or SIC). For at least oneembodiment the BS (for example 201 or 301) includes a plurality ofantennas (for example for transmission or reception) and in combinationwith the at least one of the plurality of bUE devices (for example bUEdevice 410 b) and one of the plurality of UE (for example UE 410 a)generate a matrix wireless communication channel between the BS and theat least two of the plurality of bUE devices (for example based onaccess WCT 421 link and backhaul WCT 423 link). For this embodiment thematrix channel may support at least two simultaneous transmissions overthe same RB based on a channel parameter. For at least one embodimentthe channel parameter includes a channel matrix rank. For at least oneembodiment the channel parameter includes a plurality of singular values(or alternatively eigenvalues or eigen-directions or some other propertyof the matrix channel that may assists in quantifying a number ofsimultaneous transmissions). For at least one embodiment the channelparameter includes a parameter greater than a threshold (for example thenumber of singular values above a threshold—for example singular valuesthat are at least 2 times larger than the background one or more ofnoise or interference or distortion). For at least one embodiment theplurality of bUE devices (for example bUE devices 410 b, 411 b) areselected based channel matrix parameters between one or more subsets ofthe plurality of bUE devices combined with one or more of the pluralityof UE devices (for example at least a minimum number of subsets of size2 of a bUE device selected from the plurality of bUE devices combinedwith a UE device including channel matrix of rank 2 when communicatingwith a BS with at least 2 antennas). For at least one embodiment thematrix channel parameter includes information associated with one ormore of multi user (MU)-MIMO, successive interference cancelling (SIC),multilevel constellation and/or modulation. For at least one embodimentat least one of the plurality of bUE devices are selected to enablesimultaneous wireless communication between the BS with the at least onebUE device and at least one UE of the plurality of UE. In at least someembodiments the backhaul WCT 423 link has better parameters than the WCT421 link over shared resource and a lower transmit power is transmittedfrom bUE device 410 b than UE device 410 a. In at least some embodimentsa DL RB may be shared between access WCT 424 link and backhaul WCT 422link. In at least some embodiments the backhaul WCT 424 link has betterparameters (for example bUE device 411 b has additional antennas oradditional receiver processing for shared signal separation) than theWCT 422 link over the shared resource and a lower receiver complexity isrequired from UE 411 a. In at least some embodiments improved BH WCT ofbUE device is based on one or more of additional transmit or receiveantennas, higher antenna gain, better deployment, bUE device selection,lower transmit power enabled deployment of backhaul with smalldegradation in WCT efficiency relative to a traditional backhaul. Atleast some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can implement theseembodiments.

For at least some embodiments, the BS 201 (or alternatively BS 301) isone of a plurality of BSs, wherein the plurality of BSs are eachassigned one or more frequency channels based on a soft frequency reuse(SFR) scheme with at least a low transmit power level and a hightransmit power level, and wherein at least one of the plurality of bUEdevices are assigned a resource block (RB) at the low transmit powerlevel. For at least some embodiments, the BS 201 (or alternatively BS301) is one of a plurality of BSs, wherein the plurality of BSs are eachassigned one or more frequency channels based on a soft frequency reuse(SFR) scheme with at least a low transmit power level and a hightransmit power level, and wherein a majority (for example greater than50%) of the plurality of bUE devices are assigned a resource block (RB)at the low transmit power level. For at least some embodiments, the BS201 is one of a plurality of BSs, wherein the plurality of BSs are eachassigned one or more frequency channels based on a fractional frequencyreuse (FFR) scheme with at least a first frequency reuse scheme and asecond frequency reuse scheme, the first frequency reuse schemeincluding a higher frequency reuse (or alternatively higher frequencyefficiency usage) than the second frequency reuse scheme and wherein atleast one of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 are assigned aresource block (RB) having the first frequency reuse or at least one ofthe one or more UE devices are assigned a resource block (RB) having asecond frequency reuse. For at least some embodiments, the BS 201 is oneof a plurality of BSs, wherein the plurality of BSs are each assignedone or more frequency channels based on a fractional frequency reuse(FFR) scheme with at least a first frequency reuse scheme and a secondfrequency reuse scheme, the first frequency reuse scheme including ahigher frequency reuse (or alternatively higher frequency efficiencyusage) than the second frequency reuse scheme and wherein a majority(for example greater than 50%) of the plurality of bUE devices (forexample 210, 211) are assigned a resource block (RB) having the firstfrequency reuse or at least one of the one or more UE devices areassigned a resource block (RB) having a second frequency reuse. For atleast one embodiment the bUE devices are one or more of selected (forexample from a plurality of UE) or provisioned (for example a transmitpower setting) or deployed (for example based on a frequency reuse plan)or installed (for example an installation height or pointing angle) toenable a majority of bUE devices to be assigned a RB at the low transmitpower level of a SFR and/or first frequency reuse (higher efficiency) ofa FFR. At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can implementthese embodiments.

For at least some embodiments, a first bUE device of the plurality ofbUE devices 210, 211 is assigned a wireless communication uplink (UL)resource block (RB) for BH traffic and a second bUE device of theplurality of bUE devices is assigned a downlink (DL) RB for BH traffic.For at least one embodiment a first bUE device includes a backhaul CTwith desirable DL parameters (for example wide bandwidth—for exampleVSDL) for an application on a UE device requiring DL access and a secondbUE device includes a backhaul CT with desirable UL parameters (forexample low latency—for example carrier T1) for an application requiringUL access (for example a real-time video download—DL—with ACKs—UL). Forat least one embodiment a first bUE device of the plurality of bUEdevices 210, 211 is assigned a wireless communication uplink (UL)resource block (RB) for BH traffic and a second bUE device of theplurality of bUE devices is assigned a downlink (DL) RB for BH trafficto enable joint or simultaneous transmission (for example shared RB)between the first bUE device and a first UE device in the UL and betweenthe second bUE device and a second UE device in the DL. For at least oneembodiment a first bUE device of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211is assigned a wireless communication uplink (UL) resource block (RB) forBH traffic and a second bUE device of the plurality of bUE devices isassigned a downlink (DL) RB for BH traffic to assist in balancingwireless communication resources (for example RB) between the access WCTand backhaul WCT usage of the wireless communication resources.

For at least some embodiments, at least a first bUE device of theplurality of bUE devices 210, 211 transmits or receives access trafficassociated with the first bUE device. For at least one embodiment thefirst bUE device (for example 210) communicates self-generated accesstraffic over the backhaul CT (for example 230). For at least oneembodiment the first bUE device (for example 210) communicatesself-generated access traffic over the WCT (for example 220) through theBS (for example BS 201). For at least one embodiment the first bUEdevice (for example 210) communicates self-generated access traffic overthe backhaul CT (for example 230) or over the WCT (for example 220)through the BS (for example BS 201) based on an access traffic parameter(for example latency or bandwidth).

For at least some embodiments, a first bUE device is dynamically addedto or deleted from the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 based on one ormore first parameters associated with the wireless communication betweenthe first bUE device and the BS 201 or one or more second parametersassociated with the at least one data network through at least thesecond communication technology associated with the first bUE device.For at least one embodiment a particular bUE device is dynamically addedto the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 based on one or more firstparameters associated with the wireless communication between the firstbUE device and the BS 201 relative to a threshold (for example aparticular bUE device could be added to the plurality of bUE deviceswhen the SNIR exceeds a threshold, or a MCS exceeds a threshold, or alink quality variation is below a threshold). For at least oneembodiment a particular bUE device is dynamically deleted from theplurality of bUE devices 210, 211 based on one or more first parametersassociated with the wireless communication between the first bUE deviceand the BS 201 relative to a threshold (for example a particular bUEdevice could be deleted from the plurality of bUE devices when the SNIRdrops below a threshold, or a transmit power exceeds a threshold, or aPER is above a threshold). At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 andFIG. 3 can implement these embodiments.

For at least some embodiments, the BS 201 is further operative to selectat least a first bUE device of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 forbackhaul (BH) traffic, wherein the BH traffic includes access trafficfrom a second bUE device of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211.

For at least some embodiments, a first bUE device of the plurality ofbUE devices 210, 211 is assigned a first channel, and a second bUEdevice of the plurality of bUE devices 210, 211 is assigned a secondchannel. For at least one embodiment one of the plurality of UE devicesaccess WCT is assigned to the first or second channel. For at least oneembodiment one of the plurality of UE devices access WCT is assigned tothe first or third channel.

For at least some embodiments, the selection of the one or more of thebUE devices 210, 211 is based on evaluating, obtaining and/orclassifying a characteristic or parameter of the access, payload,communication, or data flow of the at least one UE device (such as, UEdevice 212) and the BS 201. At least some embodiments of both FIG. 2 andFIG. 3 can implement these embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment. Forthis embodiment, the system includes a first base station (BS) 510, oneor more backhaul user equipment (bUE) devices (such as, bUE device 522),the one or more bUE devices 522 operable to wirelessly communicate withthe first BS 510 through at least a first communication technology (forexample wireless communication technology (WCT) 531), and the one ormore bUE devices 522 operable to communicate with at least one datanetwork (such as, data network 551) through at least a secondcommunication technology (for example backhaul communication technology(CT) 541), and a second base station (BS) 500 operable to wirelesslycommunicate (for example through backhaul WCT 530) with the first BS510, the second BS 500 further operable to communicate with a seconddata network (such as, data network 550 through backhaul CT 540). Forthis embodiment, the first BS 510 is operative to wirelessly communicate(for example access WCT 534) with one or more user equipment (UE)devices (such as, UE device 521), and network connect the one or more UEdevices 521 to the at least one data network 551 or the second datanetwork 550 through at least one of the one or more bUE devices 522 orthe second BS 500, select at least one of the one or more bUE devices522 or the second BS 500 for backhaul (BH) traffic, wherein the BHtraffic includes access traffic from the one or more UE devices 521, aidin selecting the transmission power level of at least one of the one ormore bUE devices 522, or at least one of the one or more UE devices 521,and transmit resource block (RB) scheduling information for the BHtraffic transmission of at least one of the one or more bUE devices 522and the access traffic of at least one of the one or more UE devices521. An exemplary second UE device 520 is shown connected to the secondBS 500 through access WCT 533. In at least some embodiments, the secondBS 500 shares wireless communication resources (for example one or morefrequency bands or one or more frequency channels or one or moreresource blocks) between the backhaul WCT 530 and the access WCT 533 foraccess traffic associated with UE device 520.

In at least some embodiment the first BS 510 assigns at least a portionof the access traffic to be communicated over the BH WCT 530 connectionbetween the first BS and the second BS. In at least some embodiment, thefirst BS includes a Relay Node. In at least some embodiments, the firstBS 510 may communicate all of the access traffic associated with thefirst BS's associated UE (for example UE device 521) through backhaulWCT 530. In at least some embodiments, BH WCT 530 includes a scarce orshared or expensive wireless resource (such as 3G/4G wireless spectrum)or generates interference to other BS or UE device (for example accessWCT 533 or access WCT 534). In at least some embodiments, the accesstraffic associated with one of the one or more UE device associated withfirst BS 510 (for example UE device 521) includes a plurality ofservices or applications with one or more backhaul requirements (forexample one or more of latency, bandwidth, QoS, PER, cost, a data usagecap, etc.). In at least some embodiments, at least one of the one ormore backhaul requirements of a service or application generating accesstraffic exceed the backhaul parameters of BH WCT 530 (for example costor bandwidth). In at least some embodiments, one or more of the backhaulparameters of BH WCT 530 exceed the requirements of services orapplications of the one or more UE device (for example UE deviceservices or applications may include background data or best effortdata). In at least some embodiments, it may be desirable to add (forexample deploy a bUE device or select and/or reconfigure a particular UEdevice from the one or more UE device) a bUE device and selectingbetween the BH WCT 530 associated with BS 500 and BH WCT 531 associatedwith the bUE device 522 for backhauling access traffic from UE device521. For example BH WCT 531 may include one or more of a first cost, afirst latency, first interference, first bandwidth to a data network551, and the BH WCT 530 to second data network 550 over BH CT 540 mayinclude one or more of a second cost, a second latency, secondinterference, second bandwidth to a data network 551. In at least someembodiments, the first cost of BH WCT 531 is lower than a second cost ofBH WCT 530 and services or applications requiring low cost arecommunicated over BH WCT 531 (for example streaming video). In at leastsome embodiments, the first latency of BH WCT 531 is higher than asecond latency of BH WCT 530 and services or applications requiring lowlatency are communicated over BH WCT 530 (for example VoIP).

In at least some embodiments, the BH CT 540 to data network 550 is acarrier core network (for example carrier class), but is low bandwidthor expensive (for example a few T1). In at least some embodiments, theBH to data network 551 through bUE device 522 is over a consumer grade(for example DSL or cable modem) network. In at least some embodiments,latency sensitive access traffic is carried over BH WCT 530. In at leastsome embodiments, BH WCT 531 through bUE device 522 is selected based onone or more of peak traffic events or to communicate overflow traffic oroffload traffic or best effort traffic or background access traffic.

For at least some embodiments the first BS 510 includes one or more of acellular BS or a Relay Node (RN).

For at least some embodiments the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUEdevice 522) wirelessly communicate with the first BS 510 over one ormore of wireless communication technologies (WCT 531), wherein the oneor more wireless communication technologies include at least one ofWiFi, WiMax, 3G, 4G, LTE, Orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA), Wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA).

For at least some embodiments the one or more UE devices (such as, UEdevice 521) wirelessly communicate (WCT 534) with the first BS 510 overone or more of wireless communication technologies, wherein the one ormore wireless communication technologies include at least one of WiFi,WiMax, 3G, 4G, LTE, OFDMA, WCDMA.

For at least some embodiments the one or more UE devices (such as, UEdevice 521) wirelessly communicate with the first BS 510 and the one ormore bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) wirelessly communicate withthe first BS 510 utilizing a same wireless communication technology(that is, WCT 531 and WCT 534 are the same). More specifically, for atleast some embodiments the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device521) wirelessly communicate with the first BS 510, and the one or morebUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) wirelessly communicate with thefirst BS 510 utilizing the same wireless communication technology and ashared one or more frequency channels.

For at least some embodiments the at least one of the one or more UEdevices (such as, UE device 521) or at least one of the one or more bUEdevices (such as, bUE device 522) includes one or more of a fixed clientterminal, mobile terminal, a user terminal, an access terminal, aconsumer premises equipment. For at least some embodiments the at leastone of the one or more UE devices or at least one of the one or more bUEdevices (such as, bUE device 522) includes one or more of a cellularphone, a smart phone, a notebook, a laptop, a tablet, or a PC.

For at least some embodiments the at least one of the one or more bUEdevices (such as, bUE device 522) is at least one of associated with ora part of a small cell BS, wherein the small cell BS includes clientside modem functionality. More specifically, for at least someembodiments the small cell BS includes one or more of a microcell, apicocell, a relay node, a femtocell.

For at least some embodiments the at least one data network includes oneor more of a wide area network, mobile core, core network, a companynetwork, carrier network, broadband network, internet.

For at least some embodiments the second communication technologyincludes one or more of broadband internet connectivity, wiredcommunication technology, T1, E1, digital subscriber line (DSL), DataOver Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), cable modem,wireless communication technology, WiFi, WiMax, 4G, point to point (P2P)or point to multi-point (P2mP) microwave, fiber communication technology(for example 4G carrying 3G/2G).

For at least some embodiments the first BS 510 is further operative toobtain one or more first parameters associated with the wirelesscommunication (such as, WCT 531) between at least one of the one or morebUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) and the first BS 510. Morespecifically, for at least some embodiments the selection of the atleast one of the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) forthe BH traffic is based on the one or more first parameters. For atleast some embodiments the one or more first parameters includes one ormore of a link quality, link quality statistics, link quality variation,path loss, fading, shadowing, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Signal toInterference and Noise Ratio (SINR), Packet Error Rate (PER), receivedinterference, interference generated to other devices, Channel QualityIndicator (CQI), Channel State Information (CSI), Modulation and CodingScheme (MCS), Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), rank indicator (RI),single user or multiuser Multiple Input Multiple Output (SU-MIMO orMU-MIMO) information.

For at least some embodiments the first BS 510 is further operative toobtain one or more second parameters associated with the at least onedata network (such as data network 510 through at least the secondcommunication technology. More specifically, for at least someembodiments the selection of the at least one of the one or more bUEdevices (such as, bUE device 522) for the BH traffic is based on the oneor more second parameters. An exemplary, non-exhaustive list of secondparameters includes one or more of a link quality, bandwidth,throughput, cost, latency, jitter, QoS, PER.

For at least some embodiments the access traffic associated with the oneor more UE devices (such as, UE device 521) is classified into two ormore data flows based on a data flow parameter and the selection of atleast one of the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) forthe BH traffic is based in part on the data flow parameter. For at leastsome embodiments the data flow parameter includes one or more of a dataflow bandwidth, latency, Quality of Service (QoS), PER, UE device state,application, user state, cost, sponsoring, data plan.

For at least some embodiments the first BS 510 operative to aid inselecting the transmission power level of at least one of the one ormore bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522), or the one or more UEdevices (such as, UE device 521) is assisted by a signal transmitted bythe first BS 510. For at least some embodiments the assisting by thesignal transmitted by the first BS 510 includes one or more of a controlmessage from the first BS 510, or a reference signal transmitted by thefirst BS 510.

For at least some embodiments a resource block includes a partition of acarrier or frequency channel for the wirelessly communicating. For atleast some embodiments the partition includes one or more of a unit oftime, a unit of frequency, or a code. For at least one other embodiment,the partition includes one or more of a time slot, a frequency band, atime-frequency allocation, a time-code allocation, a time-frequency-codeallocation.

For at least some embodiments the wireless communication between the oneor more bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) and the first BS 510 isenhanced relative to the wireless communication between the first BS 510and at least one of the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 521),wherein the enhanced wireless communication includes one or more ofbetter antenna gain, more antennas, outdoor installation, betterprocessing power, better transmit or receive analog or digitalperformance, lower transmit power, higher or outdoor installation,improved link parameters, improved number of antennas.

At least some embodiments further include classifying and prioritizingthe BH traffic based on the access traffic, and wherein the RBscheduling information for the BH traffic is based on the BH trafficprioritization. At least some embodiments further include classifyingand prioritizing the access traffic, wherein the RB schedulinginformation for the access traffic and the BH traffic is based on theaccess traffic prioritization and BH traffic prioritization. Morespecifically, at least some embodiments include classifying the BHtraffic including best effort access traffic having a lower prioritythan classified access traffic having a delay QoS below a threshold.

At least some embodiments further includes selecting the one or more bUEdevices (such as, bUE device 522) such that at least one of the one ormore UE devices (such as, UE device 521) has an associated bUE device,thereby enabling joint or simultaneous wireless communication over oneor more shared resource blocks (RB). At least some embodiments furtherincludes selecting the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522)such that a majority of the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device521) has an associated bUE device, thereby enabling joint orsimultaneous wireless communication over one or more shared resourceblocks (RB). For at least some embodiments, the joint wirelesscommunication over the one or more shared RB includes joint wirelesscommunication utilizing one or more of communication separable in space,multilevel constellation, transmitter pre-coding or receiver separation.For at least some embodiments the at least one of the one or more bUEdevices (such as, bUE device 522) includes a plurality of transmitantennas, wherein the at least one bUE device includes more transmitantennas than the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 521). Forat least some embodiments, the at least one of the one or more bUEdevices (such as, bUE device 522) includes a plurality of transmitantennas, wherein the at least one bUE device includes more transmitantennas than the majority (for example 50% or more) of the one or moreUE devices (such as, UE device 521). For at least some embodiments amajority (for example 50% or more) of the one or more bUE devices (suchas, bUE device 522) includes a plurality of transmit antennas, whereinthe majority of the one or more bUE device includes more transmitantennas than the majority (for example 50% or more) of the one or moreUE devices (such as, UE device 521). For at least some embodiments theat least one of the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522)includes a plurality of receiver antennas, wherein the at least one bUEdevice includes more receiver antennas than the one or more UE devices(such as, UE device 521). For at least some embodiments the at least oneof the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) includes aplurality of receiver antennas, wherein the at least one bUE deviceincludes more receiver antennas than the majority (for example 50% ormore) of the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 521). For atleast some embodiments a majority (for example 50% or more) of the oneor more bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) includes a plurality ofreceiver antennas, wherein the majority of the one or more bUE deviceincludes more receiver antennas than the majority (for example 50% ormore) of the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 521).

In at least one embodiment, the at least one bUE device is associatedwith at least one of the one or more UE devices (such as, UE device 521)includes a plurality of transmit (or alternatively receive) antennas,wherein the at least one bUE device includes more transmit (oralternatively receive) antennas than the one or more UE devices (suchas, UE device 521) the at least one bUE device is associated with.

For at least some embodiments the first BS 510 is one of a plurality ofBSs, wherein the plurality of BSs are each assigned one or morefrequency channels based on a soft frequency reuse (SFR) scheme with atleast a low transmit power level and a high transmit power level, andwherein at least one of the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUE device522) are assigned a resource block (RB) at the low transmit power level.For at least some embodiments the first BS 510 is one of a plurality ofBSs, wherein the plurality of BSs are each assigned one or morefrequency channels based on a soft frequency reuse (SFR) scheme with atleast a low transmit power level and a high transmit power level, andwherein at least a majority (for example 50% or more) the one or morebUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) are assigned a resource block (RB)at the low transmit power level.

For at least some embodiments the first BS 510 is one of a plurality ofBSs, wherein the plurality of BSs are each assigned one or morefrequency channels based on a fractional frequency reuse (FFR) schemeand wherein at least one of the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUEdevice 522) are assigned a resource block (RB) having a higher frequencyreuse than a resource block (RB) assigned to the one or more UE devices(such as, UE device 521). For at least some embodiments the first BS 510is one of a plurality of BSs, wherein the plurality of BSs are eachassigned one or more frequency channels based on a fractional frequencyreuse (FFR) scheme and wherein at least a majority (for example 50% ormore) of the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) areassigned a resource block (RB) having a higher frequency reuse than aresource block (RB) assigned to the one or more UE devices (such as, UEdevice 521).

For at least one embodiment, the one of more bUE devices includes aplurality of bUE devices, and wherein a first bUE device of theplurality of bUE devices is assigned a wireless communication uplink(UL) resource block (RB) for BH traffic and a second bUE device of theplurality of bUE devices assigned a downlink (DL) RB for BH traffic.

For at least one embodiment, at least a first bUE device of the one ormore bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522) transmits or receives accesstraffic associated with the first bUE device (for example self-generatedaccess traffic form services or applications associated with the bUEdevice). For at least one embodiment a first bUE device is dynamicallyadded to or deleted from the one or more bUE devices (such as, bUEdevice 522) based on one or more first parameters associated with thewireless communication between the first bUE device and the first BS 510or one or more second parameters associated with the at least one datanetwork through at least the second communication technology associatedwith the first bUE device.

For at least one embodiment, the first BS 510 is further operative toselect at least a first bUE device of the one or more bUE devices (suchas, bUE device 522) for backhaul (BH) traffic, wherein the BH trafficincludes access traffic from at least a second bUE device of the one ormore bUE devices (such as, bUE device 522).

FIG. 6 shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment. Thisembodiment further includes multiple bUE devices 522, 623, wherein afirst bUE device 522 operable to communicate with at least one datanetwork (such as, data network 551) through at least a secondcommunication technology (such as backhaul CT 541), and second bUEdevice 623 is operable to communicate with at least one data network(such as, data network 652) through, for example, backhaul CT 642. Atleast some embodiments of both FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 (which include aplurality of bUE devices) may be utilized for the embodiments related(or alternatively associated with or in conjunction with or jointly withor to enhance) to FIG. 6.

For at least some embodiments, the selecting at least one of the one ormore bUE devices (such as, bUE devices 522, 623) is based on one or morefirst parameters associated with the wireless communication between theone or more bUE devices (such as, bUE devices 522, 623) and the first BS510 or one or more second parameters associated with one or more firstdata network through at least one or more second communicationtechnology. For at least one embodiment, the selection at least one ofthe one or more bUE devices (such as, bUE devices 522, 623) includes oneor more of selecting a deployment, selecting a type, selecting aconfiguration, selecting an installation, selecting a site. For at leastone embodiment, the one of more bUE devices (such as, bUE devices 522,623) includes a plurality of bUE devices (such as, bUE devices 522,623), and wherein the first parameter of the bUE device selection isbased on a joint first parameter between at least two of the pluralityof bUE devices (such as, bUE devices 522, 623). For at least oneembodiment the joint first parameter enables joint or simultaneouswireless communication on a shared resource block (RB) of at least twoof the plurality of bUE devices (such as, bUE devices 522, 623). For atleast one embodiment the joint or simultaneous wireless communicationincludes one or more of multi user (MU)-MIMO, successive interferencecancelling (SIC), multilevel constellation/modulation.

In at least one embodiment, the backhaul system in FIG. 5 is improved asshown in the backhaul system FIG. 6 by including an additional bUEdevice (for example bUE device 623). For example access trafficassociated with UE device 521 could be selected between backhaulingpaths BH WCT 530, BH WCT 531 and BH WCT 632 based on one or more of theWCT parameters (for example spectrum efficiency, throughput, PER,received or generated interference, channel variation, mobility,handoff) or the one or more BH CT parameters (for example latency,bandwidth, PER, jitter) of BH CT (such as 540, 541, 642), associatedwith one or more data networks (such as 550, 551, 652). In at least someembodiments, the one or more data networks 550, 551, 652 may be the samenetwork. In at least some embodiments, two out of the 3 networks 550,551, 652 may be the same network. In at least some embodiments, the oneor more data networks 550, 551, 652 may be the same or differentnetworks. In at least some embodiments, selecting a backhaul pathbetween a plurality of bUE devices enables (or improves) sharing (orjoint or simultaneously) of WCT resources between the bUE device and theUE device (SDMA, BF, MU-MIMO, SIC). In at least some embodiments,backhaul selecting between a plurality of bUE devices enables higherspectrum utilization (higher MCS utilization, better frequency reuse,improved FFR, improved SFR, lower interference, lower transmit power).

FIG. 7 a shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment. Forthis embodiment, the first BS 510 is further operable to communicatewith at least a third data network (such as, data network 752) over atleast a third communication technology (backhaul CT 742). For at leastsome embodiments, the third communication technology includes one ormore of wired communication technology, T1, E1, DSL, DOCSIS, cablemodem, wireless communication technology, WiFi, WiMax, P2P or P2mPmicrowave, fiber communication technology. For an embodiment, the firstBS 510 is further operative to select the third communication technologyfor BH traffic, wherein the BH traffic of the third communicationtechnology including access traffic from the one or more UE devices 521.For an embodiment, the first BS 510 is further operative to obtain oneor more third parameters associated with the at least one data network(such as, data network 752) through at least the third communicationtechnology. For at least some embodiments, the one or more thirdparameters include one or more of a link quality, bandwidth, throughput,cost, latency, jitter, QoS, PER.

For at least some embodiments, the third communication technology for BHtraffic includes a carrier grade communication technology (for example,fiber CT, T1, wireless microwave). For at least some embodiments, the BHtraffic of the third communication technology includes legacy accesstraffic.

FIG. 7 b shows another backhaul system, according to an embodiment. Itis to be noted that the embodiment as shown does not include any bUEdevices. This system includes a first base station (BS) 510. A secondbase station (BS) 500 is operable to wirelessly communicate with thefirst BS 510. The second BS 500 is further operable to communicate witha second data network 550. Further, the first BS 510 is operativecommunicate with at least a third data network over at least a thirdcommunication, to wirelessly communicate with one or more user equipment(UE) devices (such as, UE device 521), and network connect the one ormore UE devices (such as, UE device 521), to at least the third datanetwork 752 or to the second data network 550 through the second BS,select at least one of the third data network over at least a thirdcommunication technology or the second data network through the secondBS for backhaul (BH) traffic, wherein the BH traffic includes accesstraffic from the one or more UE devices, aid in selecting thetransmission power level of at least one of the one or more UE devices,and transmit resource block (RB) scheduling information for the BHtraffic transmission of at least one of the second BS for BH traffic andthe access traffic of at least one of the one or more UE devices.

As previously noted, FIG. 7 a shows another backhaul system, accordingto an embodiment. BS 510 may include BH CT to a data network 752. Forexample BH CT 742 may include one or more carrier class T1/E1 whichprovides one or more of low bandwidth, low latency, high cost and legacydata communications. In at least some embodiments, BS 510 also includesBH WCT 530 and BH WCT 531. In at least some embodiments, BH CT 742 haslowest latency followed by BH WCT 530 and then BH WCT 531. In at leastsome embodiments, BH WCT 531 has highest bandwidth, followed by BH WCT530 and then BH CT 742. Based on the last two sentences access trafficassociated to low latency low bandwidth services or applications (suchas VoIP or gaming) may be assigned to BH CT 742, access trafficassociated to best effort and large bandwidth services or applications(such as video streaming, software download, file sharing, cloud backup)may be assigned to BH CT 531. In at least some embodiments, one of theBH paths 530, 531, 752 may have BH parameters associated with DL or ULdirection that may favor a first BH path for DL access traffic and asecond BH path for UL access traffic. For example DSL CT may beasymmetric and favor DL access traffic. For example the access DL WCTresources may be oversubscribed relative to UL WCT resources favoringselection of BH WCT UL.

As previously noted, FIG. 7 b shows another backhaul system, accordingto an embodiment. In at least some embodiments, BS 510 may include BH CT742 to a data network 752. For example BH CT 742 may include one or morecarrier class T1/E1 which provide one or more of low bandwidth and/orlow latency and/or high cost. In at least some embodiments, BS 510 mayalso include BH WCT 530. In at least some embodiments, BH CT 742 haslower latency than BH WCT 530. In at least some embodiments, BH WCT 530has higher bandwidth than BH CT 742. Based on the last two priorparameters access traffic associated to low latency and/or low bandwidthservices or applications (such as VoIP or gaming) may be assigned to BHCT 742, access traffic associated to best effort and/or large bandwidthservices or applications (such as video streaming, software download,file sharing, cloud backup) may be assigned to BH CT 530. In at leastsome embodiments, one of the BH paths 530, 752 may have BH parametersassociated with DL or UL direction that may favor a first BH path for DLaccess traffic and a second BH path for UL access traffic. For exampleDSL CT may be asymmetric and favor DL access traffic. For example theaccess DL WCT resources may be oversubscribed relative to UL WCTresources favoring selection of BH WCT UL.

FIG. 8 shows a system for estimating a future link quality of a userequipment (UE) at a future positioning, according to an embodiment. Thisembodiment includes a base station 800 and a UE device (or alternativelya user device or end user device or wireless end user device) 820,wherein the UE device 820 wirelessly communicates with the base station800. According to at least some embodiments, at least one of acontroller of the base station 800, a controller of the UE device 820, acontroller (not shown) associated with the system, or a combination ofthe listed controllers is operative to determine a plurality of linkqualities (LQs) 830 a, 830 b, of the UE device 820 for a plurality ofpositionings 860 a, 860 b of the UE device 820, wherein at least one ofthe plurality of positionings 860 a, 860 b includes at least a locationor an orientation of the UE device 820. The one or more controllers arefurther operative to store information associated with the plurality ofLQs 830 a, 830 b, for the plurality of positionings 860 a, 860 b,estimate at least one future positioning 870 of the UE device 820, andestimate a future link quality (LQ) 831 of the UE device 820 at the atleast one future positioning 870 of the UE device 820 based on thestored information associated with the plurality of LQs 830 a, 830 b atthe plurality of positionings of the UE device 820. For at least oneembodiment the plurality of LQs are one or more of obtained,communicated, received, sent, transmitted, computed, post-processed,extrapolated, interpolated, derived in addition to or instead offstored. For at least one embodiment the estimated future LQ are one ormore of obtained, communicated, received, computed, post-processed,extrapolated, interpolated, derived in addition to or instead offestimated.

As shown, a neighboring base station (BS) 810 generates interference 841which can be received by the UE device 820. For at least one embodimentone or more LQ 830 a, 830 b includes information associated withinterference 841.

For at least one embodiment UE device 820 wirelessly communicates with afirst BS (for example BS 800) at a first UE positioning (for example UEpositioning 860 a) and wirelessly communicates with a second BS (forexample BS 810) at a second positioning (for example positioning 860 b).For this embodiment a handoff between the first BS 800 and the second BS810 may occur when the UE device 820 moves from the first UE positioning860 a to the second positioning 860 b.

For at least one embodiment a scheduler (for example a scheduler withinBS 800 for DL or UL) assigns resources (for example resource allocationof frequency channels, resource blocks, time slots to one of a pluralityof UE device) or transmission modes (for example transmit power,modulation and coding scheme (MCS), transmit diversity or pre-coding orMIMO or BF) based on information associated with a link quality betweenthe UE device 820 and a link partner wirelessly communicating with theUE device 820. For at least one embodiment a scheduler assigns resources(for example a plurality of time-frequency RBs) to a plurality of UEdevices at a plurality of future time slots. The information associatedwith the LQ of at least one of the plurality of UE devices at theplurality of future time slots may improve one or more of the linkefficiency, link robustness, PER, spectral efficiency, latency, of thewireless communication directed by scheduler. For at least oneembodiment a scheduler assigns resources or transmission mode based on aUE device future positioning LQ. For at least one embodiment the futureLQ is based on a future positioning of the UE device. For at least oneembodiment the future positioning of the UE device 820 is based on afuture time. For at least one embodiment the future LQ is based onpositioning. For example a UE device may be located (stationary ormobile) within a home or office building and the path loss (orshort/long term fading) of the desired signal and interfering signalsmay change based on the location due to shadowing of windows or walls orreflections of objects surrounding the UE device. For example a UEdevice may be located (stationary or mobile) within a home or officebuilding and the path loss (or short and/or long term fading) of thedesired signal and interfering signals may change based on theorientation due shadowing of windows or walls or reflections of objectssurrounding the UE device or polarization of the transmit or receiveantennas. For example the LQ of a UE device may be further based on atransmit mode selection (for example transmit power or transmit BF,etc.). For at least one embodiment it may be beneficial to account fortransmit mode selecting when storing or estimating LQs. For at least oneembodiment the stored or estimated future LQ is based on a carrier (orfrequency channel) between the UE device and the link partner. For atleast one embodiment the stored or estimated future LQ is based on alink partner selection (for example if the UE device at a location wheretwo serving BS may wirelessly communicate with the UE device). For atleast one embodiment the stored or estimated future LQs may be based onsurrounding objects. For example the positioning of at least a part of auser associated with the UE device (for example using sensors at the UEdevice—such as touch sensors, camera, etc.). For example the location ofthe user's hands or head relative to the UE device. For at least oneembodiment the stored information associated with the plurality of LQsincludes a number of parameters. For example the stored informationcould be a multidimensional table including Cartesian (x,y,z) location(for example relative to a home or office origin) and two anglecoordinates (for example azimuth and elevation relative to North-Southaxis), user positioning (for example hand and head offset relative to aUE device origin), and interference level (for example max, min,typical). For at least one embodiment to reduce storage, the LQsinformation may be compressed (for example by decimating location orangle granularity, or by fitting the information to a function). For atleast one embodiment the LQs information may be reduced by applyinginterpolation or extrapolation operations on the stored LQs forestimating the future LQ. For at least one embodiment a correctionfactor is applied to some of the LQs information (for example the userhand and/or head information could be included as a correction factorthat is independent of UE device location). For at least one embodimentthe contributions of transmit mode in the estimated future LQ may beincluded as a correction factor.

For at least one embodiment the information associated with theplurality of LQs are stored at the UE device. For at least oneembodiment the information associated with the plurality of LQs arestored at the UE device to improve the privacy of the UE device or auser associated with the UE device. For at least one embodiment theinformation associated with the plurality of LQs are stored at the UEdevice to reduce control overhead to the wireless communication link.For at least one embodiment a user may select if the informationassociated with the LQs may be shared with the link partner. For atleast one embodiment the information associated with the plurality ofLQs of a first UE device are stored at an associated BS (for example oneof more of a link partner BS or a neighbor BS or a interfering BS). Forat least one embodiment the information associated with the plurality ofLQs of a first UE device are stored at a second UE device. For at leastone embodiment the information associated with the plurality of LQs of afirst UE device are stored at one or more controllers associated withthe first UE device, an associated BS, a BS aggregator or cluster or acloud element (for example a cloud RAN or cloud BS).

For at least one embodiment a BS (for example BS 800) is communicatingwith a plurality of UE device (including UE device 820). For at leastone embodiment the BS includes a scheduler for jointly scheduling theplurality of UE device. For at least one embodiment the BS obtains aplurality of estimated future LQs of the plurality of UE devices and thescheduler assigns resources to each of the plurality of UE devices basedon the plurality of estimated future LQs (for example if a first UE SNRis estimated to increase and a second UE SNR is estimated to decrease),the second UE device may be scheduled before the first UE device. For atleast one embodiment the BS obtains a plurality of estimated future LQsof the plurality of UE devices and the scheduler assigns transmit modesto each of the plurality of UE devices based on the plurality ofestimated future LQs (for example the scheduler may assign jointresources to two UE devices using MU-MIMO or BF transmission).

For at least one embodiment, the at least one of the future LQ or theplurality of LQs 830 a, 830 b includes one or more of a path loss (PL),S, I, SNR, SINR, SIR, CQI, CSI, PER. For at least one embodiment, the atleast one of the future LQ or the plurality of LQs 830 a, 830 b isassociated with an uplink or downlink transmission. For at least oneembodiment, the at least one of the future LQ or the plurality of LQs830 a, 830 b is associated with a frequency band or a frequency channel.A non-exhaustive list of exemplary frequency bands includes a 850 MHzGSM band (824-849 MHz and 869-894 MHz) and a PCS band (1,850-1,910 MHzand 1,930-1,990 MHz) cellular frequency bands. A non-exhaustive list ofexemplary frequency channels include a 1.4 MHz, 3 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15MHz, and 20 MHz used for 4G or LTE. For at least one embodiment one ormore channels may be used at each frequency band. For at least oneembodiment, at least one of the future LQ or the plurality of LQs 830 a,830 b is associated with a wireless communication technology. Anon-exhaustive list of exemplary a wireless communication technologiesinclude GSM, CDMA, HSPA, LTE. For at least one embodiment, at least oneof the future LQ or the plurality of LQs 830 a, 830 b is associated witha link partner of the UE device 820.

For at least one embodiment, a link quality positioning informationincludes at least one of the determined plurality of LQs 830 a, 830 b,the stored information, the estimated future positioning 870 or theestimated future LQ 831. For at least one embodiment, the UE device 820obtains at least a portion of the link quality positioning informationfrom a link partner. More specifically, for at least one embodiment, theUE device 820 communicates at least a portion of the link qualitypositioning information to a link partner.

At least one embodiment further includes allocating a resource to a UElink, wherein the allocation of the resource to the UE link is based onthe estimated future LQ 831. For at least one embodiment, the allocatingcan be performed by a controller, wherein the controller can be locatedwithin a base station or equivalent—such as, a combination of basestations, a base station controller, or cloud (for example a cloud RANor cloud BS). More specifically, for at least one embodiment, theresource is one or more of a carrier, a frequency channel, a resourceblock, a time slot, a frequency band, a code.

At least one embodiment, further includes selecting a transmission modefor a UE link, wherein the selecting the transmission mode for the UElink is based on the estimated future LQ 831. Again, for at least someembodiments, the selecting can be performed by a controller, wherein thecontroller can be located within a base station or equivalent—such as, acombination of base stations, a base station controller, or cloud. Forat least one embodiment, the transmission mode includes one or more of amodulation, a code, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), a MIMO mode, abeamforming parameter, a transmit power.

At least some embodiments further include obtaining at least one futuretime, and wherein the estimating the at least one future positioning 870is based on the at least one future time. For at least one embodiment ascheduler assigns resources (for example time-frequency RB or timeslots—either DL or UL) to a UE device at a particular time slot orparticular time-frequency block or a particular time-code or aparticular time-frequency-code blocks. For at least one embodiment theestimated future LQ (at one or more future times) may be used by thescheduler for improving the wireless communication between the UE deviceand the link partner (for example one or more BS) by assigning theparticular resource or a particular resource at a particulartransmission mode.

At least some embodiments further include a second plurality ofpositionings wherein the second plurality of positionings includes theat least one future positioning 870, and further includes estimating asecond plurality of LQs based on the second plurality of positionings.More specifically, for at least one embodiment, the second plurality ofpositionings includes a current positioning. More specifically, at leastone embodiment further includes allocating a resource block (RB) to a UEdevice 820 link based on the estimated second plurality of LQs.

For at least some embodiments, the plurality of positionings isconstrained to a physical area. More specifically, for at least someembodiments, the constrained physical area includes one or more of atleast a portion of a home, an office, or an office building.

For at least some embodiments, at least one of the plurality ofpositionings or the estimated at least one future positioning 870 of theUE device 820 further includes at least one of an error, an accuracy, adeformation, a velocity, an acceleration. For at least one embodiment avelocity and/or acceleration (for example a current or past one or moreof location or velocity or acceleration may be used to estimate a futureposition, for example using motion equations) may be used to obtain theestimated at least one future positioning. For at least one embodiment apositioning error or a positioning accuracy may be used to assign aquality measure or a confidence interval or a statistic measure to thepositioning or the associated LQ. For example if the positioning erroris below a first threshold, the associated plurality of LQ of futureestimated LQ error may be below a second threshold. For at least oneembodiment if an error (or alternatively accuracy) of at least one of aplurality of LQ or estimated future LQ are below a first threshold, theassociated wireless communication PER may be below a second threshold.For at least one embodiment a data communication over wirelesscommunication between UE device 820 and BS 800 requires a low PER andthe estimated future positioning error must be below a threshold or thetransmission mode must have additional margin (above a threshold) orrobustness.

At least some embodiments further include determining a UE device 820usage information, wherein at least a portion of the link qualitypositioning information is based on the UE device 820 usage information.More specifically, for at least some embodiments, the UE device 820usage information includes UE device 820 information indicating one ormore of a user handheld mode, a hands-free mode, a speaker phone mode, acar Bluetooth mode, a headset Bluetooth mode. For at least oneembodiment the UE device 820 being in handheld mode results inadditional signal loss or attenuation from the users' hand (and/orhead). For at least one embodiment the UE device 820 being in carBluetooth mode results in additional signal loss from car walls/exteriorbut typically less attenuation from not being indoors and typicallyadditional channel fluctuations from car mobility. For at least oneembodiment the UE device 820 being in speaker phone mode results inlower loss from head attenuation.

At least some embodiments further include determining a UE device 820environment information, wherein at least a portion of the link qualitypositioning information is based on the UE device 820 environmentinformation. More specifically, for at least some embodiments, the UEdevice 820 environment information includes information associated toone or more of a traffic load, a network load, an interference. For atleast some embodiments, the UE device 820 environment informationincludes one or more time of day, whether information (for example,temperature, wind, or humidity), day of year, or season. For at leastsome embodiments, the UE device 820 environment information includesinformation associated with surrounding objects. For at least someembodiments, the UE device 820 environment information includesinformation associated with a user of the UE device. For at least someembodiments, the information associated with the user of the UE deviceincludes positioning of the user of the UE device 820. For at least someembodiments, the information associated with the user of the UE deviceincludes positioning of the user of the UE device 820 relative to the UEdevice 820. At least some embodiments further include assistingdetermining the UE device 820 environment information using sensors ofthe UE device 820. The sensors include, for example, a camera atouchscreen and/or gyroscope.

FIG. 9 shows another system for estimating a link quality of a UE deviceat a neighboring positioning, according to an embodiment. It is to beunderstood that the embodiments of FIG. 8 can be applied to theembodiments of FIG. 9.

For at least one embodiment it is desirable to estimate (oralternatively derive or obtain or predict or interpolate or extrapolate)a link quality at one or more positionings that are within a positioningthreshold of a current positioning of a UE device. For example, the linkquality from one or more possible changes of positioning may beestimated for attempting to improve the link quality (for example if thecurrent LQ is not adequate). For at least one embodiment moving to aneighboring positioning may include rotating the UE device from avertical to a horizontal positioning, or moving from the left side tothe right side of a user's head, or walking the UE device to a differentlocation in a room or a building.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 includes a base station 800 and user equipment820 (UE), wherein the UE device 820 wirelessly communicates with thebase station 800. According to at least some embodiments, at least oneof a controller of the base station 800, a controller of the UE device820, a controller (not shown) associated with the system, or acombination of the listed controllers is operative to determine aplurality of link qualities (LQs) 830 a, 830 b, of the UE device 820 fora plurality of positionings 860 a, 860 b of the UE device 820, whereinat least one of the plurality of positionings 860 a, 860 b includes atleast a location or an orientation of the UE device 820. Thecontroller(s) are further operative to store information associated withthe plurality of LQs 830 a, 830 b for the plurality of positionings 860a, 860 b, estimate at least a positioning of the UE device, determine atleast one neighboring positioning 970 of the positioning of the UEdevice 820, and estimate a link quality (LQ) 931 of the UE device 820 atthe at least one neighboring positioning 970 of the UE device 820 basedon the stored information associated with the plurality of LQs 830 a,830 b at the plurality of positionings 860 a, 860 b of the UE device820.

At least some embodiments further include adjusting or changing aconfiguration of the UE device 820 based on the estimated LQ 931. Atleast some embodiments further include presenting the estimated LQ 931of the UE device 820 at the at least one neighboring positioning 970.That is, present estimated LQ 931 of the UE device 820 at the at leastone neighboring positioning 970 to a user of the UE device 820. At leastsome embodiments further include selecting a candidate positioning fromthe at least one neighboring positioning 970 based on the estimated LQ931. At least some embodiments further include presenting the selectedcandidate positioning to a user of the UE device 820. For at least someembodiments a link quality neighboring positioning information includesat least one of the determined plurality of LQs 830 a, 830 b, the storedinformation, the estimated at least a positioning of the UE device 820,the determined at least one neighboring positioning 970, or theestimated LQ. At least some embodiments further include determining a UEdevice 820 environment information, wherein at least a portion of thelink quality neighboring positioning information is based on the UEdevice 820 environment information. For at least some embodiments the UEdevice 820 environment information includes information associated witha user of the UE device 820. At least some embodiments further includeselecting a joint candidate positioning of the UE device 820 and a userof the UE device 820, wherein the joint candidate positioning includes acombination of a UE device 820 positioning and a user positioningrelative to the UE device 820. At least some embodiments further includepresenting the selected joint candidate positioning.

For at least one embodiment it may be beneficial to estimate a LQ at aneighboring positioning based on a first positioning. For at least oneembodiment the first UE positioning may be a UE current positioning 975.For at least one embodiment it may be beneficial to estimate a LQ at aplurality of neighboring positioning based on a first positioning. Theestimated future LQ at the plurality of neighboring positioning may bepresented to a user of the UE device (for example in a color coded mapof a first positioning and a plurality of neighboring positioning). Forat least one embodiment the plurality of estimated future LQ at theplurality of neighboring positioning may be used to select a desiredneighboring positioning. For at least one embodiment the plurality ofestimated future LQ at the plurality of neighboring positioning may beused to select a desired neighboring positioning with improved wirelesscommunication parameters (lower PER, higher data rates, higher spectralefficiency, lower transmit power, lower received or generatedinterference, better coverage, etc.). For at least one embodiment theselected neighboring positioning may be presented to a user of the UEdevice (for example by voice command or in a color coded map or diagramof a first positioning and one or more selected positioning). Forexample a UE device may determine that moving the UE device by a givenamount in a given direction improves LQ (for example due to wallshadowing loss). For example the UE device may determine that rotatingthe UE device around a horizontal axis improves LQ (for example due toantenna polarization gain). For at least one embodiment the plurality ofestimated future LQ at the plurality of neighboring positioning may beused to select a desired neighboring positioning for a user. For examplemoving the UE device user's hand relative to a phone or tablet or a userrotating relative to a vertical axis to reduce head or body attenuation(combined effects of hands and head are known to reduce path loss by5-10 dB). For at least one embodiment the selection of neighboringpositioning for estimating LQ is based on a user selection (for exampleonly evaluate neighboring positioning within 5 ft). For at least oneembodiment a neighboring positioning is selected if the future LQimproves by a given threshold (for example a neighboring candidateposition is only presented if the path loss improved by 3 dB). For atleast one embodiment the threshold is provided by a user of the UEdevice.

FIG. 10 shows another system for estimating a future link quality of aUE device at a future time based on a future positioning (for example UEpositioning at second time 1060 b), according to an embodiment. It is tobe understood that the embodiments of FIG. 8 can be applied to theembodiments of FIG. 10.

For at least one embodiment the estimated future LQ at a future time isbased on a UE positioning history (for example the UE positioning atfirst time 1060 a over access WCT at a first time 1030 a), wherein theUE positioning history includes at least one UE positioning prior to thefuture positioning (for example at the future time). For at least oneembodiment the estimated future LQ at a future time is based on a UEpositioning path (for example UE positioning path 1070), wherein apositioning path may include a plurality of UE positioning (for exampleUE positioning at two or more times or time instances) or a UEpositioning trajectory or UE positioning function of time (for examplederived from equations of motion based on a first positioning and/orfirst velocity and/or first acceleration). For at least one embodimentFIG. 10 shows a system for estimating a plurality of LQ based on one ormore of a UE positioning at first time 1060 a, UE positioning path 1070or UE positioning at a second time 1060 b (over access WCT at a secondtime 1030 b), for example based on one or more of positioning andpositioning motion (for example velocity, acceleration, etc.).

FIG. 11 shows another system for estimating a future link quality 1031of a second UE device 830 at a future positioning 1170 based on linkqualities 830 a, 830 b based on a plurality of positionings 1160 a, 1160b of a first UE device 820, at according to an embodiment. It is to beunderstood that the embodiments of FIG. 8 can be applied to theembodiments of FIG. 11.

For at least one embodiment one or more parameters associated with UEdevice 820 or UE device 830 (for example device type—smartphone,tablet—transmit power, number of antennas, receiver processing, receivernoise figure, etc.) are included in the estimation of the LQ of UEdevice 830 based on the LQ 830 a, 830 b associated with UE device 820.For at least one embodiment information associated with the plurality ofLQs for a plurality of positioning of UE device 820 are combined withinformation associated with the plurality of LQs for a plurality ofpositioning of UE device 830 for improving the stored information forestimating a future link quality. For example an office building withmultiple UE devices and users may combine the plurality of LQs (forexample by device type) for improving the estimated future LQ. Incontrast with the embodiment of FIG. 8, the UE device 820 does not needto estimate its own future link quality. However, the link quality ofthe UE device 830 is estimated.

FIG. 12 shows a wireless system that includes characterizing ofinterference at a user equipment, according to an embodiment. The systemincludes a base station (BS) 1200 (for example with coverage shown as BScell 1220), wherein the BS 1200 is operative to wirelessly communicatewith a plurality of user equipment (UE) (such as, UE device 1211 asshown by the solid arrow between BS 1200 and UE device 1211). The systemincludes one or more controllers operative to select one or more basestations (BSs) 1201, 1203 (as shown by a thicker cell boundaries for BScell 1221 and BS cell 1223) associated with base station 1200. Forexample BS 1203 may communicate with UE device 1212. It is to be noted,for example, that BS 1202 is associated with BS 1200 based on control1240, but has not been selected as shown by standard thickness for BScell 1222. Further, the same or different or a combination of same adifferent controllers are operative to schedule the selected one or moreBSs 1201, 1203 associated with the BS 1200 to transmit according to atleast one transmission mode during a scheduled transmission (in someembodiments the transmission generates interference at UE device 1211 asrepresented by the dashed-arrows between BS 1201 and UE device 1211 andBS 1203 and UE device 1211). Further, at least one of the plurality ofUE devices (such as UE device 1211) are operative to characterizeinterference at the at least one of the plurality of UE devices (such asUE device 1211) during the scheduled transmission.

The characterized interference includes, for example, one or more ofco-channel interference, adjacent channel interference, intersectorinterference, intercell interference, intrasystem interference,intersystem interference.

For at least some embodiments, the wireless system includes at least oneof a WiFi system, a WiMAX system, a cellular system, a 3G system, a 4Gsystem, a HSPA system, an LTE system. Further, for at least someembodiments, the BS 1200 includes at least one of an AP, a NodeB, aeNodeB, a macrocell BS, a microcell BS, a relay node, a femtocell, aDistributed Antenna System (DAS) BS, a Remote Radio Head (RRH) BS, asmall cell BS.

For at least some embodiments, the BS 1200 and one or more BSs (forexample a subset of 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) are part of a heterogeneousnetwork. For an embodiment, the BS 1200 includes one or more sectors orcells. For an embodiment, the BS 1200 includes a coverage area or acell. As shown, BS 1204 is connected to a separate control 1241, andcommunicating with UE device 1213 within BS cell 1224 (shown as ahouse). For example this is a femtocell which is part of theheterogeneous network.

For at least some embodiments, the at least one UE device includes oneor more of an mobile terminal (MT), an access terminal (AT), a customerpremises equipment (CPE).

For at least some embodiments, selecting the one or more BSs (forexample a subset of BS 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) associated with the BS1200 is based on physical proximity. More specifically, for anembodiment the selecting of the one or more BSs (for example a subset ofBSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) associated with the BS 1200 is based on theone or more BSs (for example a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204)being located within a threshold distance from the BS. For anembodiment, at least one of the selected one or more BSs (for example asubset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) associated with the BS 1200 is aneighboring BS. For an embodiment, the BS 1200 includes a coverage areaor a cell, and wherein at least one of the selected one or more BSs (forexample a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) associated with the BS1200 is within the coverage area of the BS.

For an embodiment, the BS 1200 and at least one of the one or more BSs(for example a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) are classified, andwherein the selecting of the one or more BSs (for example a subset ofBSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) is based on the classification. For anembodiment, the classification is based on one or more BSs (for examplea subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) parameters. A non-exhaustivelist of exemplary parameters include at least one of BS 1200 height, BS1200 coverage area, BS 1200 transmit power, BS 1200 antennaconfiguration, and/or BS 1200 type (macro, micro, relay node, femto).

For an embodiment, the BS 1200 and the one or more BSs (for example asubset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) are a subset of a plurality of BSsfrom a cellular wireless system, and wherein the plurality of BS fromthe cellular system are grouped into one or more clusters, and whereinthe BS 1200 and the one or more BSs (for example a subset of BSs 1201,1202, 1203, 1204) are part of a same cluster.

For at least some embodiments, selecting at least one of the one or moreBSs (for example a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) associated withthe BS 1200 is based on an interference estimate. For an embodiment, theinterference estimate is based on at least one of a distance between atleast one of the selected one or more BSs (for example a subset of BSs1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) and the at least one of the plurality of UEdevices, a path loss model applied to at least one of the selected oneor more BSs (for example a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) and theplurality of UE devices, a propagation loss application, an interferencemeasurement data, or an interference estimate by the at least one of theplurality of UE devices.

For at least some embodiments, the BS 1200 and the one or more BSs (forexample a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) are synchronized. For anembodiment, the synchronization includes one or more of time, timingphase, timing frequency, carrier phase or carrier frequencysynchronization. For an embodiment, the synchronization further includestransmitting the at least one transmission mode with a time offsetassociated with a wireless communication propagation time. For at leastone embodiment synchronizing the BS 1200 with one or more BSs simplifiesthe interference characterization and/or improves the time and/orfrequency alignment of the desired and interfering transmission modes.For at least one embodiment transmitting the at least one transmissionmode with a time offset associated with a wireless communicationpropagation time improves the time alignment of a the at least onetransmission mode signal and a one or more second transmission modesignal as received by one or more UE devices (for example a desired andinterfering signal may be better aligned at a UE device receiver or ainterfering signal and a Null transmission signal may be better alignedsimplifying an interference measurement).

For at least some embodiments, the at least one transmission modeincludes an active transmission mode. For at least one embodiment theactive transmission mode includes one or more of a training mode,control mode or data mode. For at least one embodiment the activetransmission mode is a non-zero or non-null transmission mode. For anembodiment, the at least one transmission mode includes a datatransmission mode. For an embodiment, the data transmission modeincludes a data or a data payload. For an embodiment, the datatransmission mode includes data intended to be received by at least oneUE device wirelessly communicating with the one or more BSs (for examplea subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204). For an embodiment, the datatransmission mode includes data intended to be transmitted to a virtualUE device wirelessly communicating with the one or more BSs (for examplea subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) or data without a targetdestination. For at least one embodiment at least one of the one or moreBSs is scheduled to send a transmission mode but no (link partner) UEdevice is expecting a data communication at the scheduled transmission.In such an embodiment the at least one BS may send a data transmissionto a virtual UE device (for example a special or ghost or imaginary orout of range UE device). This embodiment allows for transmission of datawithout requiring a UE device communicating with the BS at the scheduledtransmission.

For an embodiment, the data transmission mode includes random data orpseudo-random data or scrambled data. For at least one embodiment, ifthe BS does not have data to transmit at the scheduled transmission itmay transmit filler data, for example random or pseudo-random or stuffeddata.

For an embodiment, the at least one transmission mode includes one ormore of a transmission power, a MIMO mode, a beamforming parameter, aPMI, a MCS, a selected transmit antenna.

For an embodiment, the at least one transmission mode includes a highinterference mode, low interference mode or typical interference mode.For at least one embodiment the at least one transmission mode includesa high interference mode to assist at least one of the plurality of UEdevice (such as UE device 1211) to characterize high interferencelevels, for example to improve the estimation accuracy or tocharacterize an upper range of possible interference levels (for exampleif an inferring BS has transmit power control, or SFR (soft frequencyreuse). For at least one embodiment the at least one transmission modeof a first BS includes a low interference mode to assist at least one ofthe plurality of UE device (such as UE device 1211) to characterize lowinterference levels, for example to improve the estimation accuracy of asecond BS or to characterize a lower range of possible interferencelevels (for example if an inferring BS has transmit power control, orSFR).

For an embodiment, the scheduled at least one transmission mode includesa periodic schedule. For at least one embodiment the transmission modeincludes the periodic schedule to reduce a control of the scheduledtransmissions or to reduce the complexity of at least one of theplurality of UE devices to characterize the interference (for examplereducing a search time or control message decoding).

For an embodiment, the scheduled at least one transmission mode includesa wireless communication resource. For an embodiment, the wirelesscommunication resource includes one or more of a resource block, a code,a time slot, a frequency band.

For an embodiment, the wirelessly communicating includes a framestructure, the frame structure including a control signal having aplacement relative to the frame structure, wherein the scheduledtransmission is scheduled relative (for example a time or frequencyoffset) to the control signal. For an embodiment, the placement is fixedand/or known. For an embodiment, the frame structure is fortransmission. For an embodiment, the wirelessly communicating includes aframe structure, the frame structure including a control signal having aplacement relative to the frame structure, wherein the scheduledtransmission is directed or enabled by the control signal. For anembodiment, the placement includes a timing and/or frequency offset. Foran embodiment, the wirelessly communicating includes a periodic framestructure, including a periodic control signal having a placementrelative to the periodic frame structure, wherein the scheduledtransmission is scheduled relative to the periodic control signal. Foran embodiment, the placement is fixed and/or known. For an embodiment,the frame structure is for transmission. For an embodiment, thescheduled transmission is scheduled at a fixed time or frequency offsetrelative to a known placement of the periodic control signal. For anembodiment, the scheduled transmission is scheduled at a structuredknown time or frequency offset relative a known placement of theperiodic control signal.

For at least some embodiments, scheduling the selected one or more BSs(for example a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) associated with theBS 1200 includes transmitting according to the at least one transmissionmode during a plurality of scheduled transmissions. For an embodiment,the plurality of scheduled transmissions have a duty cycle relative tothe wireless communication below a threshold. For an embodiment, theplurality of scheduled transmissions occupy a fraction (for examplebelow a threshold, typically <10%) of wireless communication resources.For an embodiment, the plurality of scheduled transmissions areperiodically or quasi-periodically scheduled relative to a wirelesscommunication frame control signal. For an embodiment, the plurality ofscheduled transmissions are dynamically allocated by a wirelesscommunication frame control signal. For an embodiment, each of theplurality of scheduled transmissions includes at least one of aplurality of transmission modes. For an embodiment, selecting at leastone of the plurality of transmission modes for each of the plurality ofscheduled transmissions is based on a regular pattern. For anembodiment, the regular pattern is dynamically modified by a framecontrol signal. For at least one embodiment a regular pattern simplifiesthe control for transmission of the plurality of transmission modes. Forat least one embodiment a regular pattern simplifies at least one of theplurality of UE devices (such as UE device 1211) are operative tocharacterize interference at the at least one of the plurality of UEdevices (such as UE device 1211) during the scheduled transmission byreducing complexity for decoding of control signals or complexity toremove desired signals or other interfering signals from the receivedsignals. For at least one embodiment the regular pattern is dynamicallymodified based on data traffic transmission parameters associated withthe BS (for example based on BS data traffic load—highly loaded vslightly loaded, or based on distribution of data traffic transmissionmodes—for example SISO vs. MIMO vs. BF or SFR). For at least oneembodiment a regular pattern is dynamically modified based on a BSbecoming active or inactive (for example a femto cell).

For at least some embodiments, the one or more BSs (for example a subsetof BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) associated with the BS 1200 dynamicallychanges.

At least some embodiments further include a plurality of scheduledtransmissions, and further including dynamically selecting the one ormore BSs (for example a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204) associatedwith the BS. For an embodiment, a fifth UE device of the plurality of UEdevices is configured to characterize interference during the pluralityof scheduled transmission and dynamic selection of the one or more BSs(for example a subset of BSs 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204). For an embodiment,the fifth UE device is configured to characterize interference of thedynamic selection of one or more BSs (for example a subset of BSs 1201,1202, 1203, 1204), enables estimation of an interference contributionfrom at least one of the one or more BSs (for example a subset of BSs1201, 1202, 1203, 1204).

For at least some embodiment, the wirelessly communicating includes aframe structure, the frame structure including at least a controlsubframe and a data subframe, wherein the data subframe includes thescheduled transmission.

FIG. 13 shows another wireless system that includes characterizing ofinterference at a user equipment, according to an embodiment. The systemincludes a base station (BS) 1200, wherein the BS 1200 is operative towirelessly communicate with a plurality of user equipment (UE) (such as,UE device 1211). The system includes one or more controllers operativeto control BS 1200 to transmit a null transmission mode (shown as thedotted BS cell 1220) during at least a portion of the scheduledtransmission of BS 1201 or BS 1203 (shown as thicker cell boundaries ofBS cell 1221 and BS cell 1223).

More specifically, for at least some embodiments further includescheduling the BS 1200 to transmit a null transmission mode during atleast a portion of the scheduled transmission. For an embodiment, thenull transmission includes a non-active transmission, wherein an activetransmission is one or more of a training transmission mode, a controltransmission mode and a data mode. For at least one embodiment the nulltransmission includes a BS transmission signal (or power) level below athreshold. For at least one embodiment the null transmission is aconstant transmission or contains mostly noise or other non-desiredtransmission due to imperfections of a transmitter. For at least oneembodiment the null transmission is intended to be a zero transmissionbut may include some spurious or undesired signals or noise.

At least some embodiment further include characterizing, by at least asecond UE device of the plurality of UE devices, interference during thenull transmission mode at the at least a portion of the scheduledtransmission.

FIG. 14 shows another wireless system that includes characterizing ofinterference at a user equipment, according to an embodiment. The systemincludes a base station (BS) 1200, wherein the BS 1200 is operative towirelessly communicate with a plurality of user equipment (UE) (such as,UE device 1211). The system includes one or more controllers operativeto selecting a BS 1201 to schedule the selected BS 1201 to transmit anull transmission mode (shown as the dotted BS cell 1221) during atleast a portion of the scheduled transmission of BS 1203 (shown asthicker cell boundary of BS cell 1223).

At least embodiments, further include selecting a second BS, andscheduling the selected second BS 1201 (selected BS) to transmit a nulltransmission mode during at least a second portion of the scheduledtransmission. For an embodiment, the selection of the second BS 1201 isbased on one or more of a physical proximity of the second BS 1201relative to the BS 1200, being a designated as a neighbor of the BS1200, being within a coverage area of the BS 1200, a classification ofthe second BS 1201 and the BS 1200. For an embodiment, the second BS1201 is selected based on an estimate of its generated interference toone or more of the plurality of UE devices being above a threshold. Foran embodiment, selecting the second BS 1201 is based on an interferenceestimate. For an embodiment, the interference estimate is based on atleast one of a distance between the second BS 1201 and at least one ofthe plurality of UE device, a path loss model applied to the second BS1201 and the plurality of UE devices, a propagation loss application, aninterference measurement data, an interference estimate by at least oneof the plurality of UE devices. An embodiment further includescharacterizing, by at least a third UE device of the plurality of UEdevices, interference during the null transmission mode of the at leastthe second portion of the scheduled transmission. For an embodiment, thecharacterizing of the interference occurs during null transmission ofsecond BS 1201. At least some embodiments further includecharacterizing, by at least a fourth UE device of the plurality of UEdevices, an interference contribution of the second BS and the one ormore BSs during the null transmission mode of the at least the secondportion of the scheduled transmission. For an embodiment, thecharacterizing of the interference occurs during null transmission ofsecond BS 1201. FIG. 16 shows an example of three BS, BS1, BS2, BS3scheduling resource blocks on the same frequency channel (or carrier) A(represented by rectangular blocks with x-axis in time units and y-axisin frequency units), according to an embodiment. In the example of FIG.16, the unused RB are represented as blank rectangles, and the activescheduled RB are represented as three different angles of hatching:horizontal hatching for transmit mode (TM) c, vertical hatching for TMband diagonal hatching for TMa (for example the angles of hatching mayrepresent a transmit power level). In the example of FIG. 16 all BS areactive during time slot 1 (including all frequency bands), which mayrepresent control or reference signals simultaneously transmitted fromall three BS. For example BS1 allocates contiguous RB between time units1 to 5. For example BS2 allocates time unit 1 and has a gap until units5-6. BS3 allocated time units 1-2. A receiver (for example UE1) mayreceive a linear combination of all three BS transmissions, attenuatedby respective gains G1, G2 and G3. From this example the interferencewill be worst at time unit (or slot) 1, since all three BS are activeand interference would be minimum at time units 7 and 8. Other timeunits 2 through 6 would have intermediate interference levels. From thisexample the measured interference is a function of the resource blockthat is selected for measuring interference and is dependent onscheduling decisions (and traffic load) of the interfering BS. For atleast one embodiment it may be advantageous to schedule a resource blockand a transmit mode so that the interference measurement at UE1 has lessvariability. For at least one embodiment improved interferencemeasurements results in one or more of improved resource allocation andimproved MCS selection, lower PER, reduced retransmissions for UE1.

FIG. 17 shows a plurality of BS cells, according to an embodiment. Inthis example (and following figures) all cells are homogenous hexagonsfor simplicity of representation. In practice BS cells may beheterogeneous (for example different sizes and shapes) and a smaller BScell (for example micro, pico, femto, or relay node) may be within thecoverage area of a larger cell (for example macro or micro). In thisexample (and several following figures) a cell with a scheduled nulltransmission is represented as a blank (or white) hexagon. In thisexample (and several following figures) a cell with a scheduledtransmission mode is represented as a diagonally hatched hexagon. Inthis example (and several following figures) a cell that is notconstrained to a transmission mode or a null transmission is representedas a horizontally hatched hexagon. In the example of FIG. 17, a receiverin BS1 (UL) or a receiver of a plurality of UE devices (DL) wirelesslycommunicating with BS1 may measure joint interference from all sixnearest neighboring BS: BS2-BS7 which have all been scheduled to followa transmission mode. For at least one embodiment all remaining fartherneighbors are unrestricted and may transmit (or not) based on localtraffic requirements. In the example of FIG. 17 BS1 (or all the UEdevices associated with BS1 for UL measurements at BS1) is scheduled totransmit a null transmission. For at least one embodiment a nulltransmission reduced the complexity of estimating interference. For atleast one embodiment BS 1 (or a selected UE device) may transmit and theinterference may be estimated after subtracting the contribution of thedesired signal.

FIG. 18 shows an example where two BS clusters (BS1-BS7 and BS11-BS17)may be simultaneously scheduling transmission modes or nulltransmissions or characterizing interference in parallel, according toan embodiment. For at least one embodiment if the two BS clusters aresufficiently separated the interference coupling between the twoclusters may be negligible. For at least one embodiment simultaneousscheduling of transmission active and null modes with a reuse factor (orminimum separation or cluster size) increases interference measurementrate or transmission efficiencies.

FIGS. 19 a and 19 b show an example of a pattern (for example regular)of BS simultaneously scheduling transmission modes or null transmissionsor characterizing interference in parallel, dynamically moving from afirst cluster of BS (BS2, BS1, BS7, BS17, BS12, BS13, BS3) to a second(for example partially overlapping) cluster: BS1, BS5, BS6, BS7, BS2,BS3, BS4) cluster of BS, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a cluster of BS simultaneously schedulingtransmission modes or null transmissions or characterizing interferencein parallel, with a plurality of null transmission BS (for exampleneighboring cluster BS1, BS3, BS4), such as a hand-off associated listof BS, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a cluster of BS simultaneously schedulingtransmission modes or null transmissions or characterizing interferencein parallel to assist FFR or SFR including at least a high transmitpower and/or a low transmit power plurality of BS (for example BS3, BS5,BS7 transmitting at lower transmit power TMb represented by a smallercell), according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows a wireless system that includes characterizing ofinterference at a base station, according to an embodiment. The wirelesssystem includes a first base station (BS) 1200, wherein the first BS1200 is operative to wirelessly communicate with a first plurality ofuser equipment (UE) (such as UE device 1510). One or more controllers(associated with the control 1240, associated with at least the first orsecond base stations 1200, 1201, or an combination of) are operative toselect a second BS 1201 associated with first BS 1200. The second BS1201 is operative to wirelessly communicate with a second plurality ofUE devices (such as UE devices 1511, 1512). Further, the one or morecontrollers (which can be a different, same or combination of the priorcontroller) are operative to select a UE device 1511 from the secondplurality of UE devices 1511, 1512. Further, the one or more controllers(which can be a different, same or combination of the prior controller)are operative to schedule the selected UE device 1511 to transmitaccording to a transmission mode during a scheduled transmission.Further, the first BS 1200 is operative to characterize interference ata least a portion of the scheduled transmission.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14can be modified from DL transmission mode to UL transmission mode andapplied to the embodiments of FIG. 15.

The characterized interference includes, for example, one or more ofco-channel interference, adjacent channel interference, intersectorinterference, intercell interference, intrasystem interference,intersystem interference.

For at least some embodiments, the wireless system includes at least oneof a WiFi system, a WiMAX system, a cellular system, a 3G system, a 4Gsystem, a HSPA system, an LTE system. Further, for at least someembodiments, the BS 1200 includes at least one of an AP, a NodeB, aeNodeB, a macrocell BS, a microcell BS, a relay node, a femtocell, aDistributed Antenna System (DAS) BS, a Remote Radio Head (RRH) BS, asmall cell BS.

For at least some embodiments, the BS 1200 and one or more BSs 1201,1202 are part of a heterogeneous network. For an embodiment, the BS 1200includes one or more sectors or cells. For an embodiment, the BS 1200includes a coverage area or a cell (such as BS cell 1220).

For at least some embodiments, the at least one of the first or secondplurality of UE devices (such as, UE devices 1511, 1512) includes one ormore of an MT, an AT, a CPE.

For at least some embodiments, the selected second BS 1201 associatedwith the first BS 1200 is a neighboring BS.

For at least some embodiments, the first BS 1200 includes a coveragearea or a cell (such as BS Cell 1220), and wherein the selected secondBS 1202 associated with the first BS 1200 or the selected UE device fromthe second plurality of UE devices (such as, UE device 1514) is withinthe coverage area of the first BS 1200.

For at least some embodiments, the first BS 1200 and the second BS 1201are classified, and wherein the selecting of the second BS 1201 is basedon the classification. For at least some embodiments, the classificationis based on one or more BS parameters. A non-exhaustive list ofexemplary BS parameters include at least one of BS height, BS coveragearea, BS transmit power, BS antenna configuration, BS type (macro,micro, relay node, femto).

For at least some embodiments, the second plurality of UE devices (suchas, UE devices 1511, 1512) are classified, and wherein the selecting theUE device is based on the classification.

A non-exhaustive list of exemplary UE device classifications include atleast one of UE device height, UE device transmit power, UE deviceantenna configuration, UE device type (macro, micro, relay node, femto),UE device mobility, UE device data/resource usage.

For at least some embodiments, the first BS 1200 and the second BS 1201are a subset of a plurality of BSs from a cellular wireless system, andwherein the plurality of BS from the cellular system are grouped intoone or more clusters, and wherein the first BS 1200 and the second BS1201 are part of a same cluster.

For at least some embodiments, selecting the second BS 1201 associatedwith the first BS 1200 or the UE device from the second plurality of UEdevices (such as, UE devices 1511, 1512) is based on an interferenceestimate. For an embodiment, the interference estimate is based on atleast one of a distance between the selected UE device and the first BS1200, a path loss model applied to the selected UE device and the firstBS 1200, a propagation loss application, an interference measurementdata, an interference estimate by the first BS 1200.

For at least some embodiments, the first BS 1200 and the second BS 1201are synchronized. For an embodiment, the synchronization includes one ormore of time, timing phase, timing frequency, carrier phase or carrierfrequency synchronization. For an embodiment, the synchronizationfurther includes transmitting the transmission mode with a time offsetassociated with a wireless communication propagation time.

For at least some embodiments, the transmission mode includes an activetransmission mode. For an embodiment, the transmission mode includes adata transmission mode. For an embodiment, the data transmission modeincludes a data carrying or a data payload. For an embodiment, the datatransmission mode includes data intended to be received by the second BS1201. For an embodiment, the data transmission mode includes virtualdata or data without a target destination. For an embodiment, the datatransmission mode includes random data or pseudo-random data orscrambled data.

For at least some embodiments, the transmission mode includes one ormore of a transmission power, a MIMO mode, a beamforming parameter, aPMI, a MCS, a selected transmit antenna. For an embodiment, thetransmission mode includes a high interference mode, low interferencemode or typical interference mode.

For at least some embodiments, the scheduled transmission mode includesa periodic schedule. For an embodiment, the scheduled transmission modeincludes a wireless communication resource. For an embodiment, thewireless communication resource includes one or more of a resourceblock, a code, a time slot, a frequency band.

For at least some embodiments, the wirelessly communicating includes aframe structure, the frame structure including a control signal having aplacement (for example one or more of a time slot, frequency or timeoffset) relative to the frame structure, wherein the scheduledtransmission is scheduled relative to the control signal. For anembodiment, the scheduled transmission placement is fixed and/or known.For an embodiment, the frame structure is for transmission. For anembodiment, the frame structure includes a DL subframe and an ULsubframe and wherein the DL subframe includes the control signal (forexample one or more of a frame boundary, synch, RS, etc.) and the ULsubframe includes the scheduled transmission.

For at least some embodiments the wirelessly communicating includes aframe structure, the frame structure including a control signal having aplacement relative to the frame structure, wherein the scheduledtransmission is directed or enabled by the control signal. For anembodiment, the wirelessly communicating includes a periodic framestructure, including a periodic control signal having a placementrelative to the periodic frame structure, wherein the scheduledtransmission is scheduled relative to the periodic control signal. Foran embodiment, the placement is fixed and/or known. For an embodiment,the frame structure is for transmit. For an embodiment, the scheduledtransmission is scheduled at a fixed time or frequency offset relativeto a known placement of the periodic control signal. For an embodiment,the scheduled transmission is scheduled at a structured known time orfrequency offset relative a known placement of the periodic controlsignal.

For at least one embodiment, scheduling the selected UE device includestransmitting according to at least one transmission mode during aplurality of scheduled transmissions.

At least one embodiment further includes selecting at least two UEdevices from the second plurality of UE devices (such as, UE devices1511, 1512) including the selected UE device, wherein scheduling the atleast two UE devices includes transmitting according to at least onetransmission mode for each of the selected at least two UE devicesduring a plurality of scheduled transmissions. For an embodiment, theplurality of scheduled transmissions have a duty cycle relative to thewireless communication below a threshold. For at least one embodiment,the plurality of scheduled transmissions occupy a fraction (for manyembodiments the fraction will be low, for example <10%) of wirelesscommunication resources. For an embodiment, the plurality of scheduledtransmissions are periodically or quasi-periodically scheduled relativeto a wireless communication frame control signal. For an embodiment, theplurality of scheduled transmissions are dynamically allocated by awireless communication frame control signal. For an embodiment, each ofthe plurality of scheduled transmissions includes at least one of aplurality of transmission modes. For an embodiment, selecting at leastone of the plurality of transmission modes for each of the plurality ofscheduled transmissions is based on a regular pattern. For anembodiment, the regular pattern is dynamically modified by a framecontrol signal.

For at least one embodiment, the selected second BS 1201 associated withthe first BS 1200 or the selected UE device from the second plurality ofUE devices (such as, UE devices 1511, 1512) wirelessly communicatingwith the second BS 1201 dynamically changes. At least one embodimentfurther includes a plurality of scheduled transmissions, and furtherincludes dynamically selecting the second BS 1201 associated with thefirst BS 1200 or the selected UE device from the second plurality of UEdevices (such as, UE devices 1511, 1512) wirelessly communicating withthe second BS 1201. For an embodiment, first BS 1200 is configured tocharacterize interference of the selected UE device during the pluralityof scheduled transmission and dynamic selection of the second BS 1201 orthe selected UE device from the second plurality of UE devices (such as,UE devices 1511, 1512) wirelessly communicating with the second BS 1201.For an embodiment, the first BS 1200 is configured to characterizeinterference of the dynamic selection of the second BS 1201 and theselected UE device, enables estimation of an interference contributionfrom at least one of the second plurality of UE devices (such as, UEdevices 1511, 1512) wirelessly communicating with the second BS 1201.

At least some embodiment include the wirelessly communicating includes aframe structure, the frame structure including at least a controlsubframe and a data subframe, wherein the data subframe includes thescheduled transmission.

In at least one embodiment, one or more controlers are operative toscheduling the first plurality of UE device (such as UE device 1510) totransmit a null transmission mode during at least a portion of thescheduled transmission. Further, the first BS 1200 is operative tocharacterize interference at a least a portion of the scheduled nulltransmission.

At least one embodiment further includes characterizing, by the first BS1200, interference during the null transmission mode at the at least aportion of the scheduled transmission.

In at least one embodiment, one or more controllers (associated with thecontrol 1240, associated with the first or second or third base stations1200, 1201, 1202 or an combination of) are operative to select a thirdBS 1202 associated with first BS 1200. The third BS 1202 is operative towirelessly communicate with a third plurality of UE devices (such as UEdevice 1514 within BS cell 1222). Further, the one or more controllers(which can be a different, same or combination of the prior controller)are operative to schedule the third plurality of UE devices (such as UEdevice 1514) to transmit according to a null transmission mode during atleast a portion of a second BS 1201 scheduled transmission. Further, thefirst BS 1200 is operative to characterize interference at a least aportion of the null scheduled transmission. For an embodiment, a nulltransmission mode includes not assigning any of the third plurality ofUE devices any transmission resources.

For at least some embodiments, the selecting of the third BS is based onone or more of a physical proximity (for example a physical proximitybelow a threshold distance) of the third BS or the third plurality of UEdevices relative to the first BS 1200, being a designated as a neighborof the first BS 1200, being within a coverage area of the first BS 1200,a classification of the third BS and the first BS 1200. For anembodiment, the third BS is selected based on an estimate ofinterference generated from one or more of the third plurality of UEdevices to the first BS 1200 being above a threshold. For an embodiment,selecting the third BS is based on an interference estimate. For anembodiment, the interference estimate is based on at least one of adistance between at least one of the third plurality of UE devices andfirst BS 1200, a path loss model applied to at least one of the thirdplurality of UE devices and the plurality of UE devices, a propagationloss application, an interference measurement data, an interferenceestimate by first BS 1200. An embodiment further includescharacterizing, by the first BS 1200, interference during the nulltransmission mode at the at least the second portion of the scheduledtransmission. For an embodiment, the characterizing occurs during nulltransmission of at least one of the third plurality of UE devices. Foran embodiment, the first BS 1200 is configured to jointly characterizean interference contribution of at least one of the third plurality ofUE devices and at least one of the second plurality of UE devices (suchas, UE devices 1511, 1512) during the null transmission mode of the atleast the second portion of the scheduled transmission.

For at least one embodiment a BS (such as BS 201) includes a pluralityof sectors wherein the plurality of bUE devices (such as, bUE devices210, 211) are distributed over the plurality of sectors and accesstraffic from a UE device (such as, UE device 212) associated with the BSis wirelessly communicated over one or more of the plurality of bUEdevices. For an embodiment the BS may include three sectors and theplurality of bUE devices may include two bUE devices located within thecoverage area of a first sector of the three sectors and access trafficfrom a UE device located within the coverage area of a second sector ofthe three sectors may be wirelessly communicated over the at least oneof the two bUE devices located within the coverage area of the firstsector.

For an embodiment a BS may include three sectors and the plurality ofbUE devices may include two bUE devices located within the coverage areaof a first sector and a second sector of the three sectors and accesstraffic from a UE device located within the coverage area of one of thethree sectors may be wirelessly communicated over the at least one ofthe two bUE devices located within the coverage area of the first sectorand second sectors. Clearly other embodiments are possible wherein theaccess traffic of a UE device may be wirelessly communicated over two ormore bUE devices that are within the same sector as the UE device, adifferent sector than the UE device or both the same sector and adifferent sector as the UE device.

For at least one embodiment a BS (such as BS 201) includes a pluralityof channels wherein the plurality of bUE devices are distributed overthe plurality of channels and access traffic from a UE device associatedwith the BS is wirelessly communicated over one or more of the pluralityof bUE devices. For an embodiment a BS may include three channels andthe plurality of bUE devices may include two bUE devices located withinthe first channel of the three channels and access traffic from a UEdevice associated with the second channel of the three channels may bewirelessly communicated over the at least one of the two bUE devicesassociated with the first channel. For an embodiment a BS may includethree channels and the plurality of bUE devices may include two bUEdevices associated with a first channel and a second channel of thethree channels and access traffic from a UE device associated with ofone of the three channels may be wirelessly communicating over the atleast one of the two bUE devices associated with the first channel andthe second channel. Clearly other embodiments are possible wherein theaccess traffic of a UE device may be wirelessly communicating over twoor more bUE devices that are within the same channel as the UE device, adifferent channel than the UE device or both the same channel and adifferent channel as the UE device.

For at least one embodiment a BS includes a plurality of sectors and aplurality of channels and the plurality of bUE devices are assignedresources from the plurality of sectors and a plurality of channels andthe plurality of bUE devices and a particular UE device of the one ormore UE devices is assigned one or more bUE devices for the plurality ofbUE devices that could be in the same sector and/or channel or adifferent sector and/or channel.

For at least one embodiment (for example embodiments associated withFIG. 3) the bUE device (such as bUE device 210) may be selected towirelessly communicate troubleshooting or fault isolation information.For at least one embodiment the backhaul WCT 220 wireless communicationpath is used to transmit access traffic when backhaul CT 332 path is notoperating correctly or to detect if backhaul CT 332 path is operatingcorrectly. For at least one embodiment the backhaul WCT 220 wirelesscommunication path is used to transmit control information to helpisolate a source of a backhaul communication to Data network 340 overbackhaul CT 332 is operating within a threshold or to isolate which ofthe one or more of the BS (such as 301) or the access WCT 222 or thedata network 340 are operating with a threshold of performance. For atleast one embodiment, the bUE device is used to diagnose a BS (such asBS 301) remotely. For example one or more control information may besent over backhaul WCT and backhaul CT 220 and diagnosed at one or moredata network locations. For example the bUE device (for example asmartphone) may be a UE device with cellular and WiFi connectivity andthe WiFi backhaul path wirelessly communicating to data network 241 maybe used to verify a performance parameter (or alternatively a fault) ofthe cellular access WCT 222.

For at least one embodiment a first backhaul path including a backhaulCT (such as 332) includes circuit switched connectivity (for exampleTDM, T1) and a second backhaul path including backhaul CT (such as 230)includes packet switched (for example IP, Ethernet) connectivity. For atleast one embodiment access traffic associated with a UE device 212 isused to select a first backhaul path or a second backhaul path based oncircuit switched or packet switched backhaul.

For at least one embodiment a first backhaul path (such as 332) includeslegacy backhaul CT (for example T1) and a second backhaul path (such as230) includes subsequent generation based backhaul CT (for exampleVDSL). For at least one embodiment, access traffic associated with a UEdevice 212 is used to select a first backhaul path or a second backhaulpath based on legacy or subsequent generation based backhaul.

For at least one embodiment a first backhaul path (such as 332)parameters are suited for legacy access traffic (for example 2G voicetraffic) and a second backhaul path (such as 230) parameters are suitedfor subsequent generation access traffic (for example 4G data). For atleast one embodiment, access traffic associated with a UE device 212 isused to select a first backhaul path or a second backhaul path based onlegacy or subsequent generation access traffic.

For at least one embodiment backhaul CT 230 over bUE device 210 isselected for improving resilience (or alternatively as a backup) for theprimary backhaul CT 332 to data network 340 or as an alternative routefor BH. For at least one embodiment backhaul CT 230 over bUE device 210is selected as a temporary or interim deployment during the upgrade orramp up or installation of backhaul CT 332 to data network 340.

For at least one embodiment one or more of a first access WCT includesone or more first QoS parameters, a first backhaul WCT includes one ormore second QoS parameters and a first backhaul CT includes one or morethird QoS parameters and a mapping (or alternatively a conversion orbest fit) between at least two out of the first, second or third QoSparameters is required.

For at least one embodiment (for example FIG. 5) a handoff between afirst BS and a second BS is based on a bUE device. For example UE device520 is wirelessly communicating to Data network 550 over BS 500 andbackhaul 540. For at least one embodiment based on one or moreparameters associated with BS 510 to data network 551 (such as aparameter associated with backhaul WCT 531 or backhaul CT 541) a UEdevice 520 could be handoff from BS 500 to BS 510 (for example if UEdevice 520 requests a data communication that could be better handled bythe backhaul path to data network 551). For at least one embodiment oneor more of a network entity (for example cloud or BS controller) or BSor UE device is aware of a backhaul parameter prior to (or during) oneor more of associating a UE device to a BS, handover or handoff of UEdevice to a BS. For at least one embodiment the backhaul parameterincludes one or more of a carrier core network backhaul or a carrierpartner core network backhaul or a roaming backhaul core network. For atleast one embodiment the handover or handoff of a UE device to a BSwirelessly communicating backhaul traffic over a bUE device is based ona backhaul CT ownership (for example carrier owned or partner carrierowned or owned by a roaming network carrier).

For at least one embodiment (for example embodiments associated withFIG. 3 or FIG. 2) the backhaul WCT 220 includes a wireless communicationmode that could be differentiated from the access WCT 222. For at leastone embodiment the mode could be a differentiated MCS (for example ahigher modulation and/or code rate and/or bits/sec/Hz) or adifferentiated MIMO or SIC or beamforming mode (for example additionalMIMO streams, additional number of transmit or receive antennas for bUEdevice) or differentiated ARQ scheme (for example larger buffers, blockARQ, intermediate MAC termination point) or differentiated controlmessage or differentiated control code or a differentiated scheduling(for example reserved or special RB). For at least one embodiment themode could enable simultaneous or joint access and backhaul WCTtransmission (for example with differentiated frame control indicators).For at least one embodiment the mode includes a more robust modulationand coding for overcoming channel impairments and/or interference orallocating high priority queues to improve on mean access delay (forexample reducing backhaul traffic latency below a threshold). For atleast one embodiment the mode includes a transmit power level (forexample a lower transmit power to reduce backhaul WCT interference toaccess WCT links).

For at least one embodiment the mode may enable MU-MIMO or beamformingsimultaneously from (to) a BS to (from) a UE device and bUE device onthe same BS resource. For at least one embodiment the mode includesspecialized symbols (for example training, reference symbols, control)for the backhaul CT. For at least one embodiment the mode includesdifferentiated link adaptation, resource allocation or scheduling ofwireless communication resources to the backhaul WCT (for example due todifferentiated channel characteristics—better LoS or K-factor or betterantennas). For at least one embodiment backhaul WCT has differentiatedcapabilities/features/modes for interference generation (transmission)or interference characterization (for example estimation) orinterference suppression (for example reception cancellationalgorithms). For at least one embodiment the (transmission/reception)mode enables scheduling of super-position frames wherein access and BHtraffic overlap on one or more time, frequency, code resources (forexample using single or multiple antennas).

For at least one embodiment (for example embodiments of FIG. 2) two ormore backhaul paths (for example over bUE device 210 and bUE device 211)may be used for backhaul diversity (for example for traffic loadbalancing, channel or interference diversity). For at least oneembodiment (for example embodiments of FIG. 2) two or more backhaulpaths (over bUE device 210 and bUE device 211) may include, more thanone WCT (for example WiFi and cellular, 3G and 4G).

For at least one embodiment channel and/or interference informationassociated with bUE device embodiments (for example embodiments of FIG.2) are communicated to a cloud or network entity (for example cloud RANor cloud BS or multi-BS control) based interference monitoring and/ormitigation in order to select one or more of frequency channel, resourceallocation, scheduling for backhaul traffic. For at least one embodimentone or more bUE devices include better interference monitoring and/orcancellation and/or mitigation than the UE device. For at least oneembodiment wireless communications resource (for example channels,resource allocation, transmit power level) monitoring and/or assignmentalgorithms for backhaul WCT are centralized. For at least one embodimentwireless communications resource (for example channels, resourceallocation, transmit power level) monitoring and/or assignmentalgorithms for backhaul WCT are distributed.

For at least one embodiment a resource allocation (for example one ormore of a frequency channel allocation, a frequency channel reuse, aSFR, a FFR) of a wireless communication resource is based on one or morebUE devices or one or more bUE parameters, which are differentiatedrelative to at least a subset of the plurality UE device or plurality ofUE device parameters. For example the bUE device may include additionaltransmit or receiver analog (such as number of antennas, antenna gain)or baseband capability (such as transmit precoding, interferencecancelling) that allow for more aggressive use of wireless communicationresources. For at least one embodiment the resource allocation jointlyassigns resources to backhaul and access traffic with differentiatedparameters used in the assignments. For at least one embodiment abackhaul traffic to a bUE device has preferential treatment (for examplehigher priority) relative to access traffic in a scheduling assignment.For at least one embodiment a backhaul traffic has differentiated QoSparameters relative to access traffic QoS parameters wherein one or moreof the resource allocation, scheduling and link adaptation are based ondifferentiated QoS parameters. For at least one embodiment the backhaultraffic QoS parameters are based on the associated access traffic QoSparameters. For at least one embodiment the backhaul QoS parameters areconsistent and/or coordinated between the UE device and the associatedBS or the associated bUE device. For at least one embodiment theinterference characterization includes (or alternatively accounts for)transmit or receive interference processing capability (for example atransmit precoding or dirty paper coding or a receiver nulling orsuccessive interference cancelling). For at least one embodimentresource allocation (or scheduling or link adaptation) is based on theinterference characterization including transmit or receive interferenceprocessing capability. For at least one embodiment interferencecharacterization matrices associated to a plurality of transmit nodes(for example BS in the DL or UE device in the UL) and a plurality ofreceiver nodes are based on transmit or received interference mitigationcapability. For at least one embodiment the resource allocation (oralternatively scheduling) of one or more of access traffic or backhaultraffic associated with the access traffic is based at least in part ona revenue (or alternatively one or more of a a cost or a profit or aservice plan or a data plan) obtained from the access traffic datacommunication. For at least one embodiment the resource allocation (orscheduler) is based at least in part of on information obtained from DPIof the access or backhaul traffic (for example based on the content orthe application or the service). For at least one embodiment theresource allocation (or alternatively scheduling) of one or more ofaccess traffic or backhaul traffic associated with the access traffic isbased at least in part on a sponsored service or application (oralternatively a revenue share or a special or a coupon or a zero-ratedor a good customer status) obtained from the access traffic datacommunication.

For at least one embodiment (for example embodiments associated withFIG. 3), access traffic associated with UE device 212 is backhauled overa bUE device 210 to data network 241 or backhaul CT 332 to data network340 based on energy efficiency of one or more elements of the system(for example battery state or energy consumption of bUE device 210 or BS301, etc.).

For at least one embodiment a receiver (for example a UE device) storesinterference information (for example raw samples or post-processedreceived signal and/or noise symbols) from one or more of referencesymbols (RS), control symbols and data symbols, and receives from a linkpartner (for example a BS) interference activity scheduling information(for example active transmission mode RB, on/off tables, nullintervals), and refines interference characterization based on storedinterference information and (delayed) interference activity schedulinginformation. For at least one embodiment the interference activityscheduling information may be delayed.

For at least one embodiment a receiver storing interference informationreduces a requirement (such as latency, BW) on the backhaul for exchangeof control messages between one or more of a BS or one or more UEdevice. For example control messages may be compressed (for example oneor more of on/off, power control, BF, MIMO parameters). For at least oneembodiment a receiver stored interference information includes a firstcovariance matrix, and based on an interference activity schedulinginformation including information based on a interference sourceconfiguration, the receiver refines the first covariance matrix to asecond covariance matrix. For at least one embodiment a receivercomputes a plurality of covariance matrix (for example a firstcovariance matrix based on the leading 25% of received frame, and asecond covariance matrix based on the leading 75% of received frame) andbased on interference activity scheduling information from neighbor BSmay obtain a new covariance matrix based on the plurality of covariancematrices.

For at least one embodiment a resource allocation or scheduler agent(for example executed by a BS controller) clusters (for exampleallocates contiguous frequency and/or time resource blocks) transmissionmodes within a transmission frame (for example DL or UL frames orsub-frames). For example a first set (or alternatively group or clusteror classification) of transmission time slots (or alternatively timeand/or frequency RBs) may be assigned a beamforming transmission mode,followed by a second set of transmission time slots assigned a MIMO(multiple input, multiple output) transmission mode, followed by a thirdset of transmission time slots assigned a SISO (single input, singleoutput) transmission mode, followed by empty slots. In at least a secondembodiment a first set of RB may include transmission at a maximumtransmit power level, followed by a median transmit power level,followed by a minimum transmit power level. Other group classificationscriteria may be based on one or more of path loss (for example for UL),MCS, transmit power, number of transmit antennas, SFR, FFR. For at leastone embodiment a plurality of UE device (or bUE device) may beclassified into sets based on path loss, for example with high path lossUL UE (which typically will transmit higher power) transmitting thefirst cluster of RB, followed by typical path loss UE, followed by lowpath loss UE.

For at least one embodiment a plurality of UE devices (or bUE devices)may be classified into sets based on distance to a BS (or locationrelative to two neighboring BS), for example cell edge UL UE (whichtypically will transmit higher power and/or often interfere with aneighboring BS) transmitting the first cluster of RB, followed by mediancell UE device, followed by close-in UE device.

For at least one embodiment classifying transmission mode into clustersreduces the variation of interference generated or received over time orenables more predictable interference levels versus frame location (forexample time and/or frequency RB relative to frame boundaries) makingscheduling or link adaptation more robust based on frame locationinterference characterization information. For at least one embodimentreduced interference variation based on transmission mode clusteringenables resource allocation (for example frequency channel assignments,SFR, FFR) to be allocated at larger time intervals (for example higherlatency feedback, more accurate estimators, larger time constantassignments—for example at central or distributed controller at a cloudnode). For at least one embodiment a resource allocation or schedulersis based on an inner and outer loop control. For example outer loop(typically resource allocation agent) based on longer term S and/or Istatistics, and inner loop (typically scheduler) based on instantaneouschannel or queue status.

For at least one embodiment a bUE device is managed (or alternativelycontrolled) at least in part by a user (for example a cellularsubscriber). For at least one embodiment a user may one or more ofallow, block, restrict, a bUE device functionality. For example a bUEdevice user (or subscriber) may limit the amount of backhaul trafficcommunicating over the bUE device. For at least one embodiment the bUEdevice may restrict the amount of backhaul traffic based on bUE devicestate (for example battery state or a data plan associated with the bUEWCT or CT). For at least one embodiment the bUE device includes a userpolicy. For example a UI for user notification of bUE device information(status, usage, battery usage or projections, etc.), user control (forexample one or more of request for permission, approval, block,restrict, allow, throttle, shape) or offers to the user, such as a dataplan sponsor. For at least one embodiment the user-managed bUE device issponsored or awards credits and/or points to the user.

For at least one embodiment a wireless access provider (or WCT provider)pays (or alternatively compensates or is billed by) a second CT provider(for example a cellular carrier may compensate a DSL and/or cableservice provider backhauling data through the bUE device). For at leastone embodiment, revenue generated from access traffic over backhaul CTis revenue-shared between the WCT provider and one or more backhaul CTprovider or some other partnership.

It should be understood that any of the embodiments of the describedembodiments can be implemented in the form of control logic usinghardware and/or using computer software in a modular or integratedmanner. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a personof ordinary skill in the art will know and appreciate other ways and/ormethods to implement embodiments of the described embodiments usinghardware or a combination of hardware and software.

Any of the software components or functions described in thisapplication may be implemented as software code to be executed by aprocessor using any suitable computer language such as, for example,Java, C++ or Perl using, for example, conventional or object-orientedtechniques. The software code may be stored as a series of instructionsor commands on a computer readable medium for storage and/ortransmission, suitable media include random access memory (RAM), a readonly memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as a hard-drive or a floppydisk, or an optical medium such as a compact disk (CD) or DVD (digitalversatile disk), flash memory, and the like. The computer readablemedium may be any combination of such storage or transmission devices.

Such programs may also be encoded and transmitted using carrier signalsadapted for transmission via wired, optical, and/or wireless networksconforming to a variety of protocols, including the Internet. As such, acomputer readable medium according to an embodiment of the describedembodiments may be created using a data signal encoded with suchprograms. Computer readable media encoded with the program code may bepackaged with a compatible device or provided separately from otherdevices (e.g., via Internet download). Any such computer readable mediummay reside on or within a single computer program product (e.g. a harddrive, a CD, or an entire computer system), and may be present on orwithin different computer program products within a system or network. Acomputer system may include a monitor, printer, or other suitabledisplay for providing any of the results mentioned herein to a user.

Any of the methods described herein may be totally or partiallyperformed with a computer system including a processor, which can beconfigured to perform the steps. Thus, embodiments can be directed tocomputer systems configured to perform the steps of any of the methodsdescribed herein, potentially with different components performing arespective steps or a respective group of steps. Although presented asnumbered steps, steps of methods herein can be performed at a same timeor in a different order. Additionally, portions of these steps may beused with portions of other steps from other methods. Also, all orportions of a step may be optional. Additionally, any of the steps ofany of the methods can be performed with modules, circuits, or othermeans for performing these steps.

The specific details of particular embodiments may be combined in anysuitable manner without departing from the spirit and scope ofembodiments of the invention. However, other embodiments of theinvention may be directed to specific embodiments relating to eachindividual aspect, or specific combinations of these individual aspects.

The above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdescribed, and many modifications and variations are possible in lightof the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described inorder to best explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe invention in various embodiments and with various modifications asare suited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for determining interference of a wirelesssystem, comprising: wirelessly communicating, by a base station (BS),with a plurality of user equipment (UE); selecting one or more otherbase stations (BSs) associated with the BS; scheduling the selected oneor more other BSs associated with the BS to transmit according to atleast one transmission mode during a scheduled transmission; andcharacterizing, by at least one of the plurality of UE, interference atthe UE during the scheduled transmission.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein interference comprises one or more of co-channel interference,adjacent channel interference, intersector interference, intercellinterference, intrasystem interference, intersystem interference.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the BS and one or more other BSs are part ofa heterogeneous network.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting theone or more other BSs associated with the BS is based on physicalproximity.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of theselected one or more other BSs associated with the BS is a neighboringBS.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the BS comprises a coverage areaor a cell, and wherein at least one of the selected one or more otherBSs associated with the BS is within the coverage area of the BS.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the BS and the one or more other BSs are asubset of a plurality of BSs from a cellular wireless system, andwherein the plurality of BS from the cellular system are grouped intoone or more clusters, and wherein the BS and the one or more other BSsare part of a same cluster.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein selectingat least one of the one or more other BSs associated with the BS isbased on an interference estimate.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein theinterference estimate is based on at least one of a distance between atleast one of the selected one or more other BSs and the at least one ofthe plurality of UE, a path loss model applied to at least one of theselected one or more other BSs and the plurality of UE, a propagationloss application, an interference measurement data, an interferenceestimate by the at least one of the plurality of UE.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising scheduling the BS to transmit a nulltransmission mode during at least a portion of the scheduledtransmission.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprisingcharacterizing, by at least a second UE of the plurality of UE,interference during the null transmission mode at the at least a portionof the scheduled transmission.
 12. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: selecting a second BS; and scheduling the selected second BSto transmit a null transmission mode during at least a second portion ofthe scheduled transmission.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein theselection of the second BS is based on one or more of a physicalproximity of the second BS relative to the BS, being a designated as aneighbor of the BS, being within a coverage area of the BS, aclassification of the second BS and the BS.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein the second BS is selected based on an estimate of its generatedinterference to one or more of the plurality of UE being above athreshold.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein selecting the second BSis based on an interference estimate.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the interference estimate is based on at least one of a distancebetween the second BS and at least one of the plurality of UE, a pathloss model applied to the second BS and the plurality of UE, apropagation loss application, an interference measurement data, aninterference estimate by at least one of the plurality of UE.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the BS and the one or more other BSs aresynchronized, and wherein the synchronization comprises one or more oftime, timing phase, timing frequency, carrier phase or carrier frequencysynchronization.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least onetransmission mode comprises an active transmission mode.
 19. The methodof claim 1, wherein the at least one transmission mode comprises a datatransmission mode.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the datatransmission mode comprises data intended to be received by at least oneUE wirelessly communicating with the one or more other BSs.
 21. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the data transmission mode comprises dataintended to be transmitted to a virtual UE wirelessly communicating withthe one or more other BSs or data without a target destination.
 22. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmission mode comprisesone or more of a transmission power, a multiple input multiple output(MIMO) mode, a beamforming parameter, a precoding matrix indicator(PMI), a modulation and coding (MCS), a selected transmit antenna. 23.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmission modecomprises a high interference mode, low interference mode or typicalinterference mode.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduled atleast one transmission mode comprises a periodic schedule.
 25. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the scheduled at least one transmission modecomprises a wireless communication resource.
 26. The method of claim 1,wherein the wirelessly communicating comprises a frame structure, theframe structure comprising a control signal having a placement relativeto the frame structure, wherein the scheduled transmission is scheduledrelative to the control signal.
 27. The method of claim 1, wherein thewirelessly communicating comprises a frame structure, the framestructure comprising a control signal having a placement relative to theframe structure, wherein the scheduled transmission is directed orenabled by the control signal.
 28. The method of claim 1, wherein thewirelessly communicating comprises a periodic frame structure,comprising a periodic control signal having a placement relative to theperiodic frame structure, wherein the scheduled transmission isscheduled relative to the periodic control signal.
 29. The method ofclaim 28, wherein the scheduled transmission is scheduled at a fixedtime or frequency offset relative to a known placement of the periodiccontrol signal.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the scheduledtransmission is scheduled at a structured known time or frequency offsetrelative a known placement of the periodic control signal.
 31. Themethod of claim 1, wherein scheduling the selected one or more other BSsassociated with the BS comprises transmitting according to the at leastone transmission mode during a plurality of scheduled transmissions. 32.The method of claim 31, wherein the plurality of scheduled transmissionshave a duty cycle relative to the wireless communication below athreshold.
 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the plurality ofscheduled transmissions are periodically or quasi-periodically scheduledrelative to a wireless communication frame control signal.
 34. Themethod of claim 31, wherein the plurality of scheduled transmissions aredynamically allocated by a wireless communication frame control signal.35. The method of claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of scheduledtransmissions comprises at least one of a plurality of transmissionmodes.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein selecting at least one of theplurality of transmission modes for each of the plurality of scheduledtransmissions is based on a regular pattern.
 37. The method of claim 36,wherein the regular pattern is dynamically modified by a frame controlsignal.
 38. The method of claim 1, further comprising a plurality ofscheduled transmissions, and further comprising dynamically selectingthe one or more other BSs associated with the BS.
 39. The method ofclaim 38, wherein a fifth UE of the plurality of UE is configured tocharacterize interference during the plurality of scheduled transmissionand dynamic selection of the one or more other BSs.
 40. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the wirelessly communicating comprises a framestructure, the frame structure comprising at least a control subframeand a data subframe, wherein the data subframe comprises the scheduledtransmission.
 41. A wireless system, comprising: a base station (BS),the BS operative to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of userequipment (UE); one or more controllers operative to select one or moreother base stations (BSs) associated with base station; one or morecontrollers operative to schedule the selected one or more other BSsassociated with the BS to transmit according to at least onetransmission mode during a scheduled transmission; and at least one ofthe plurality of UE operative to characterize interference at the atleast one UE during the scheduled transmission.